Your Introduction to Feeding the Hungry Programs in Los Barriles

 Updated: March 25, 2023

Mission Statement

Since the current leaders took over the Feeding the Hungry Fashion Show in 2017, the mission of the Los Barriles Feeding the Hungry Programs is to support those in their community suffering from poverty and food insecurity by providing them with vouchers with which to purchase food and essential supplies.

History

In 2011 an initiative was started to provide essential supplies to the most impoverished people in the Los Barriles community.  The Feeding the Hungry Fashion Show was started to supplement this initiative and helped additional families in the community.  The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic unfortunately necessitated the cancelling of the fashion shows since that time. 

We want to continue with the important mission of supporting the most impoverished people in our community. The one problem in the past has been that the Fashion Show never brought in enough money to help the neediest in our community for the entire year. 

To supplement that program the organizers of the Los Barriles Feeding the Hungry Fashion Show have started a second program.  This program is called the Feeding the Hungry Family Sponsorship Program.  We identify people who would be willing to support a local family with a small commitment of just $300 MX pesos a week or about $820 USD per year at the current conversion rate of 19 pesos to $1 US.

This Sponsorship Program makes a huge difference in the lives of a family and ensures they can receive a $300 peso Feeding the Hungry Voucher every week for the entire year. These vouchers can be redeemed by the families at Chapito's Mercado to purchase food, medicines or baby supplies.  This program is currently providing support for 21 families.

The Feeding the Hungry Programs are run entirely by volunteers. Virtually every cent you give is spent on purchasing vouchers that are given directly to the families identified as the most impoverished in this area.  The exception being when donations are made through the non-profit organization to receive a US tax deduction, there could be small PayPal and/or banking fees. This amount is very minimal.    

We need your support because no one in our community should go to bed hungry.

If you would like to make a real difference in the lives of the least fortunate in our community, please contact Ben & Harriet Purkey purkeybh@gmail.com  or Gordon and Joy Blackie gordonandjoy@gmail.com

Even a small donation from you makes a big difference to those in need. 

To sponsor one family, a donation of $820 US will cover the cost of the vouchers for a year.  However, we will accept any monetary donation that you are willing to give.  

These donations can be given through the 501(c)(3) Leaders2Give account for a USA tax deduction to a nonprofit, or through the PayPal.Me account, or by cash.  Both accounts are explained more thoroughly later in this document.

FAQ

How can I help with the Los Barriles Feeding the Hungry programs?

•     Tell your friends about the Los Barriles Feeding the Hungry programs.
•     Make a One Time Donation or make donations as often as you'd like! 
  
•     Support the Feeding the Hungry 4WD  Fun Rides in the coming years
  
•     Send out an email to your friends, and include a link to this site.       
•     Volunteer to help the programs in any way that is needed.  Volunteers are always appreciated in what they contribute to the programs.  Some examples are:
• A writer that can notify the community of current activities.
• A  person to maintain our Facebook Page.
• A photographer to record FTH activites
  

How much of the money received for the Feeding the Hungry Programs is spent on administration costs?

None!  All the money we receive is spent on purchasing vouchers that are given directly to the most impoverished people in the Los Barriles area.  The Los Barriles Feeding the Hungry Programs are run entirely by volunteers.  No money is spent on salaries or expenses.  In certain cases, there may be very small PayPal fees and/or banking fees involved.  See below for more details. 

Why give vouchers not food? 

We are not “all knowing!”  No one knows better than the families receiving the vouchers what they need most.

Giving vouchers is a much more efficient method of helping those most in need. Bulk buying, dividing up, repackaging, and organizing the distributing boxes of food is a labor-intensive enterprise that is challenging to sustain in the long run.  The Feeding the Hungry programs are in this for the “long haul.”  We understand that some of those we help will not ever be able to get back on their own feet.

Charity with dignity

Receiving a voucher is a dignified way for a family to receive support, because it gives them the power to make the decisions about their greatest need at that point in time.  It is our hope and desire that through the use of these vouchers, some families will get back on their feet.

How do we determine which families to sponsor? 

Each year we reevaluate the needs of every family on the program, and evaluate any additional requests from new families who would like to be considered to be put on the program.  From these evaluations we determine the most needy to be helped.  It is our desire that no child goes to bed hungry.  

How many local families benefit from the Feeding the Hungry Programs?

Currently there are 21 local families in the sponsorship program.

What is the value of each voucher?

This year we raised the value of each voucher to $300 pesos. (about US $15 to $16, depending on the current exchange rate.)                                                                                                                   

How do the vouchers get into the hands of those in need?

Participants pick up 4 weeks worth of vouchers, worth $1200 pesos at a central location at the beginning of every month, and receive 8 vouchers every December.   

 How are funds raised for Feeding the Hungry? 

The Feeding the Hungry Fashion Show was the original method used to raise funds for feeding the Hungry.  The primary purpose of this activity was to put on the fashion show, but also to accept the needed small donations throughout the year.  A part of the money collected was used to cover the minor costs of the show, like printing, etc., and all of the remainder raised from the show was used to purchase food vouchers.

The Fashion Shows were cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, and we have been using other methods to raise money since that time.

4 Wheel Drive (4WD) Fun Rides

The Los Barriles Feeding the Hungry 4WD  Fun Rides are very popular and a chance to get out and enjoy the local arroyos and back-country trails identifying many of your favorite musical artists, or other trivia, along the way.  These fun ride are suitable for Quads, Side by Sides, Jeeps and Trail Bikes and are usually held in December.  Participants have so much fun, they are anxious for another one to take place.  The fees paid to enter the ride go to help fund the Feeding the Hungry Program, as well as the benefits from a 50-50 Raffle.  For more information and to ask when the next fun ride will take place, email Gordon and Joy Blackie gordonandjoy@gmail.com

 Fund Raising at Lack Family concerts 

The Lack Family has graciously consented to let us piggy back with them at several of their concerts to raise money for Feeding the Hungry.  Their goal is for us to raise at least enough money to support one family for the year ($820 US) via donations and 50-50 raffle ticket earnings.     

How can I make donations to the Los Barriles Feeding the Hungry programs?

You can make a onetime donation, or you can give as often as you'd like!  You can give US dollars or Mexican pesos in the form of cash or check.  

If you would like to make a dollar donation and have a PayPal account, (no tax deductions) there is a “PayPal.Me” account to give easily.  The link is: paypal.me/bhpurkey.  After clicking the link, click on "SEND".  On the next screen, choose the amount you'd like to send. There may be a minimal fee based on your PayPal account type.

For a US tax deductible 501(c)3 Nonprofit donation, see http://www.leaders2give.org and follow the instructions for how to donate on that page.  (Please be sure to select Feeding the Hungry from their giving menu.)  Leaders2Give Inc., is a California registered nonprofit which assists other organizations in the Los Barriles area. Its mission is to inspire, teach & empower others to become leaders who possess the skills required to solve the problems facing society.  Feeding the Hungry has partnered with Leaders2Give.org and local youth who, through hands on work within our program will help them develop as future leaders.

For cash donations (dollars or pesos), questions about the programs, or if you need help using the donation methods, email Ben & Harriet Purkey purkeybh@gmail.com  or Gordon and Joy Blackie gordonandjoy@gmail.com