WHY ZIMBABWE?
When Willow began to dialogue with Feed My Starving Children regarding where the 3.5 millions meals we pack as part of Celebration of Hope would go, we asked them to give us several options in areas where they have the greatest urgency. Zimbabwe was one of a handful of countries we were asked to consider. Although we have no Global Connections church partners in Zimbabwe, the situation in that country grabbed our attention.

The presidential election at the end of March has put Zimbabwe in the news and results have yet to be made public. Robert Mugabe, who presided over one of the greatest macro-economic meltdowns in history, is still seeking to retain power—even after 28 years of disastrous results in his country. Severe drought in some parts of the country and flooding in other areas have further reduced food supplies.

Zimbabwe has gone from being the breadbasket in sub-Saharan Africa to a country that now has an annual inflation rate of over 100,000%. The average yearly income in Zimbabwe is $340 compared to $44,970 in the U.S. With the escalating global food crisis in developing countries, Zimbabwe has been one of the hardest hit. The Food and Agriculture Organization, an arm of the United Nations, has declared that Zimbabwe is one of six countries classified as being in a state of “exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies.”

WHO IS GETTING THE FOOD?
Feed My Starving Children, a Christian organization, collects donations to purchase the food then ships them to qualified partners in some 50 countries. They have sent several shipments to Zimbabwe in the past year.

The partners in Zimbabwe who will receive the meal packs designated for children are World Vision Zimbabwe and Joint Aid Management. World Vision Zimbabwe has had a presence in this country since 1975; Joint Aid Management is a 23-year-old Christian relief and development organization founded in South Africa. These partners work with 48 primary schools and pre-schools. Because of a desperate need to find food, children are leaving school. Making food available will be an incentive for them to return to their classes. At one school, attendance increased from 50% to 90% once the feeding program was launched.

HOW CAN WE BE CONFIDENT THERE WILL BE SAFE DELIVERY OF THE MEAL PACKS?
Feed My Starving Children has been in the business of sending food around the globe since 1991. They have a stellar track record of getting food to their partners, even in challenging situations. To date they have lost only one shipment. They do not work directly with governments but instead, they deliver directly to the partners. Before they move the food, they wait for a “thumbs up” from both the shipping company and the partners on the field.

Given current realities in Zimbabwe, we need to add our prayers to those of Feed My Starving Children, World Vision Zimbabwe, and Joint Aid Management for safe delivery of the nutritionally complete meals to the children.

“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows.” Isaiah 1:17 (NLT)

For details on Willow Creek’s Celebration of Hope, visit willowcreek.org/coh08