Scouring the trash for a meal
“There’s always something good in the trash!” shouts Taté, an adventurous 7-year-old boy with the biggest smile and some very muddy hands.
His sister, Reyna, is not quite as excited. She is older and has traded her little girl naivete for real-world experience. Reyna has been digging through trash dumps for some time now. For her, it is not an “adventure” anymore.
Hundreds of children in the Philippines rise before the sun each day to scavenge street garbage before the heat spoils everything.
Reyna has learned where the “freshest” garbage can be found on specific days. Her little brother has not quite caught on to Reyna’s mental recordkeeping yet, but Taté will soon realize the importance of such a survival skill. Reyna worries that the boy is more interested in finding broken toys than something to eat.
If Reyna and Tate cannot find any “clean” leftovers that are still edible, they search for plastic and metal to recycle, or anything else of value. These found “treasures” are then traded for money that might buy a meal or two.
Fr. Percy & Fr. Ray create a feeding program
Such is life for far too many Filipino children, especially near our Franciscan parish, St. Joseph the Protector, located in Barangay Holy Spirit, an impoverished community in Quezon City. Many malnourished children from different poor families need support.
Some are orphans with no family at all. Many youngsters, like Reyna and Taté, have been taken in by aging grandparents or aunts and uncles who can care for them.
That is why, in 2015, our own Father Percy Tayem, OFM did something about it. He went out into his parish of St. Joseph the Protector and asked for help to create a feeding program for these hungry girls and boys. And it is working!
Fr. Percy now works at our Mission Office in Waterford, Wisconsin, managing mission talks in parishes around our country. But the feeding program continues under the direction of another Franciscan missionary friar, Fr. Ray Anthony Ferrer, OFM.
You can feed a hungry child for less than $2
There are 150 hungry children of St. Joseph’s parish who receive a nutritious meal for less than $2 dollars! Here is the menu:
- 1 serving of chicken, pork, or fish
- 1 cup of organic rice
- 2 servings of fresh fruit
- 1 serving of vegetables
- 1 or 2 servings of bread
- 1 or 2 servings of milk or juice
When was the last time you were able to enjoy a hearty meal like that for less than a couple of dollars!? How is this even possible?
Fr. Ray says it is possible because of compassionate people like you!
You see, Fr. Ray purchases food from local vendors and has also managed to twist a few arms to get some sacks of rice, fish, and vegetables donated by market vendors in the area.
But donations from local vendors are not enough to feed the 150 malnourished children each day! We need donations from good friends like you. We need your financial support to keep this remarkable — some would even say “miraculous”— program going!
Think about it! Your gift of $30 for example, could provide at least 15 meals for deserving girls and boys like Reyna and Taté. That is 15 meals they will not have to find by digging through dirty trash!
Educating the entire community
Most people near St. Joseph Parish live in what might be called a “lean-to” because that is how the rusty, little tin shacks look. They are literally leaning up against something. Cardboard walls or floors must be replaced often.
Jugs for clean drinking water must be filled every day because running water is a luxury. As you can imagine, the rainy season can often be quite treacherous.
How can these children go to school and concentrate on their studies with an empty stomach?
That was another big concern of Fr. Ray and our Franciscan friars who serve in St. Joseph the Protector Parish. In fact, that is why children in the food program are weighed on a regular basis. It is critical that the girls and boys are growing properly and gaining weight appropriately for their age.
Improving the physical and psychological health of children who face severe socio economic disadvantages is just as important as filling an empty belly. Our friars use this opportunity to educate the children on proper nutrition. Even the volunteers who help with cooking and preparing meals are learning the value of good nutrition and health! We must feed their minds as much as their hunger!
Think of the number of children you can bless
Please consider how the entire community of St. Joseph the Protector Parish benefits from this remarkable food program! I truly believe your support will also bring you joy and God’s immense grace because you are literally saving lives!
We cannot stop now! Share another gift of at least $30 and provide 15 meals!
If you find you can share a bit more today, your gift of $60 will provide 30 meals for deserving girls and boys like Reyna and Taté. Remember, that is 30 meals they will not have to find by digging through dirty trash.
Feeding hungry children may be one of the most important things you can do as a faithful Catholic.
Pope Francis promises us, “God will richly reward all that you do for the protection and defense of those who are considered less valuable, less important, or less human.”
How could anyone think of Reyna or her adventurous little brother, Taté, as being less human or less valuable?
Every child is a blessing from God, muddy hands and all!
English 
Español de México