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We are a Christian compassion organisation dedicated to restoring hope to Filipino children and their families who live in poverty. This is achieved through programs of compassion that minister to people's basic needs.
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Recent data released by the Philippines Government shows that 30% of Filipino schoolchildren are either malnourished or undernourished.

To help combat the growing problem of malnutrition among Filipino children, Hands of Mercy Philippines is providing supplementary food assistance to undernourished children aged 1-5 years.

The Hands of Mercy Supplementary Feeding Programme began 8 years ago with feeding centres being established in 3 urban poor communities in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila. As the operations developed and other children were identified to be at risk, additional feeding centers were established through the support of local volunteers and UK donors. Ten feeding centres now exist which serve nutritious meals three times a week to over 600 children in the districts of Plainview, Welfareville and Barangka.

A serving of rice, meat, vegetables, soup and a piece of fruit comprise a typical lunch for these children. This may seem like a simple meal, but for the majority, this will be the most nutritious serving of food they will eat for the week. Their families are so poor that even providing regular meals for their children is too difficult.

As you can appreciate, the cost of feeding 600 children each month is enormous. With the decrease in income due to the drop in the rate of the peso to the pound, the feeding programme budget is being stretched to the limit. Coupled with this is the global economic crisis which has caused a severe rice shortage in the Philippines as well as a dramatic increase in the cost of basic commodities. The end result is that the programme budget, which has adequately served us for a number of years, is no longer sufficient.

Hands of Mercy Director, Sally Escoto, says, "We are making every effort not to let the current economic difficulties affect the quality or quantity of food being served to our children, but without additional funding, we may have to cut back on portion size or reduce the number of beneficiaries enrolled in the programme."

If you would like to make a financial contribution to the budgetary needs of the Supplementary Feeding Programme, then please contact Fran Gunn at the Hands of Mercy UK office. Your support will truly make a difference.

Click here to discover more about the Supplementary Feeding Programme