Limousines and lights, gawkers and stars all fill the streets of Hollywood on the night of the Academy Awards. But while Oscar is getting his close-up, a family down the street is struggling to survive.

Kim, a trained volunteer from a small local church called The Hollywood Church, has been visiting Erica and her family for several months. Every other week, Kim brings one of CHF’s Food Pak® boxes to Erica’s door to help feed the family and to nurture their growing relationship.
Erica, her husband Luis, and their three children live in a studio apartment. He is a construction worker and hasn’t had steady work for many months. He has had to take day labor jobs in order to feed his family. Erica uses her skills as well to bring in money by making and selling tamales for family and church events. However, the money never seems to be enough.

Recently, a small Chicago church heard God’s call to meet physical and spiritual needs in their suburban community. Like many churches in such neighborhoods, they were uncertain where to find and meet needy families, or if their help was even wanted.

Despite their uncertainty, the church stepped out in faith. Members asked local schools and other agencies to distribute information about their new Food Pak® ministry to families in need. Within days, people started calling to ask for help. Within weeks, each ministry team had several families to visit.

Five years ago, Jimmy Robles was dealing drugs on the streets of San Antonio. Today, he is a changed man, a pastor, helping many of the same people to whom he had previously sold drugs. Located on a notoriously dangerous corner in San Antonio, Jimmy’s church, Last Chance Ministries, offers light and life to a fringe culture that only knows darkness and death. Weary of their unhappy lives, drug addicts, prostitutes and gang members have come to trust Jimmy through the compassionate care he provides. Many are following in his footsteps making dramatic life changes as well.

Children’s Hunger Fund recently shipped our first international sea container of aid into the Dominican Republic (DR) and we have great news - it made it! The significance of this first container being received without any problems at the Dominican port cannot be overemphasized. Due to various factors like changes in government and corruption at the ports, it is often very difficult for our relationships in Latin America to receive and release containers without encountering one problem or another. We are thoroughly encouraged by the ability and efficiency of our new ministry partner in processing this shipment. Esperanza International is CHF’s new primary partner in the Caribbean. Together we look forward to the amazing doors God will open to resource local churches in both the DR and Haiti.