Hunger Relief

Recent studies indicate that 24,000 individuals die each day of hunger-related causes, according to The Hunger Project, a global organization committed to the end of world hunger. This figure is a significant decline from the organization's earlier, widely used estimate of 35,000 per day.

There are no tools for direct measurements of hunger-related deaths. The Hunger Project bases its estimates on conclusions drawn from various studies of under nutrition, malnutrition and mortality. This year, the UNICEF "Progress of Nations" report summarized many of those studies by saying that 50% of child deaths can be attributed to hunger. While there are far fewer studies on hunger and mortality in adults, most experts agree that 75% of all hunger-related deaths are children below the age of five.

The following programs at Child Foundation provide hunger relief for children*:

• Sponsorship: Monthly allowance provides a supplement for the families who have no other income. Currently, over 3,500 families benefit from this program.
• Annual Food Distribution: Packages of food are distributed to families under coverage at special occasions.
• Family Food Packages: Grant Funding of corporations or individuals allow us to distribute food to families in remote areas.
• Cisco Systems Group Grant of $43,300

Child Foundation supporters at Cisco conducted a very aggressive campaign to raise over $10,000 in less than three days. Cisco System Groups matched this amount and gave an additional donation for a total of $43,300.

Food Packages containing non-perishable items provided many meals for families in need.  Each food package contained:

• Rice - 20 kg
• Grains - 15 kg
• Cooking Oil - 5 kg
• Tuna Fish -  24 ounces
• Tea -  3 packages
• Sugar - 10 kg
• Cube Sugar - 10 kg

*Child Foundation USA does not have any financial transactions with any entities in Iran. All donations received from our donors and sponsors are being used to purchase bulk food items obtained outside of Iran, primarily from North America. Food distribution to the sponsored children is carried out by a local NGO inside Iran.

Food packages reached to 600 families living in the following provinces:

• Meat Donation to 3,000 families

In November 2003, 3,000 families in 10 provinces received packages of meat that was probably their only meat ration for the year. Private donation to distribute meat became a very popular project among Child Foundation volunteers who took the responsibility for distribution of meat among the needy families.