Feed My Starving Children Already on the Ground with Food Relief After Typhoon Haiyan in Philippines

Organizations Distributing FMSC Meals Are Requesting Additional Supply

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Nov 11, 2013, 05:16 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- At least half a million MannaPack™ meals from Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) are already being distributed to Typhoon Haiyan survivors in the Philippines, and an additional 2.5 million meals have been requested by humanitarian organizations working in the region. The Philippines is the third-largest recipient of meals from Feed My Starving Children on an ongoing basis.

A Christian non-profit based in Minnesota, FMSC donates its hand-packed, dehydrated meals to a global network of humanitarian and mission organizations. Three of those distributors—Risen Savior Missions, International Care Ministries, and Convoy of Hope—have staff and programs in the Philippines, and use MannaPack meals in ongoing hunger relief and community development work.

"With three partners working in the Philippines every day, our food can quickly get where it's needed most when disaster strikes," says Matt Muraski, Director of International Programs for Feed My Starving Children. "All three partners are mobilizing their meal inventories for this disaster, and two of them—Convoy of Hope and Risen Savior Missions— have asked us to ship at least nine additional cargo containers, or 2.5 million meals, as soon as possible."

Muraski says he expects the requests to climb as partners of FMSC assess the need. Typhoon Haiyan roared through the central Philippines for 48 hours over the weekend, reportedly killing 10,000 people, leaving 600,000 displaced, and destroying rice and coconut crops that will take months, if not years, to replace.

"Not only is there an urgent need for short-term food relief, but also for long-term supplies as Filipinos rebuild their local food sources," says Muraski. "For months to come, Feed My Starving Children will need volunteer meal-packers and generous donors to meet increased need in the Philippines, while continuing to serve nearly 50 other nations where we have promised meals this year."

Feed My Starving Children is a Christian non-profit based in Minnesota that produces three meal formulas scientifically developed to reverse and prevent malnutrition. All meals are packed by volunteers at sites in Minnesota, Illinois, and Arizona, and at MobilePack events across the United States.

FMSC receives no government support or donated ingredients, so private donations are needed to fund all meals at 22-cents each. Donors may give online to the Philippines relief effort at fmsc.org/Philippines.

Volunteers may sign up at fmsc.org/volunteer to pack meals in Minnesota (Coon Rapids, Chanhassen and Eagan); in Illinois (Aurora, Schaumburg, and Libertyville) and in Arizona (Tempe).

About Feed My Starving Children
A Christian non-profit founded in 1987, Feed My Starving Children tackles world hunger by sending volunteer-packed, nutritious meals to nearly 50 countries each year, where they're used to operate orphanages, schools, clinics and other interventions in poverty. In the most recent fiscal year, FMSC welcomed 657,000 volunteers to produce 163 million meals. FMSC has maintained the highest four-star rating from Charity Navigator for eight consecutive years and spends 92% of total donations directly on feeding the hungry.

SOURCE Feed My Starving Children