Interview with Non-profit: Feed My Starving Children from Mesa, AZ
Arizona Roofing Systems, a local roofing company from Mesa, Arizona, lately started a new local campaign with the goal to raise the awareness about local non-profit and non-governmental organizations.
We asked a hunger relief organization Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) to inform us more about their work. It would definitely be great if more people knew about their existence and their hard work.
As it is a non-profit organization, it is not strange that their biggest challenge is funding. Read more about their work in an interview below.
Introduction: To begin with, we would like you to briefly tell us about your organization.
Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is a hunger relief organization. We use volunteers as young as 5 to hand pack our special meal formula that is shipped to our partners in 70 countries around the world.
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1. What do you do exactly? And what was the reason that encouraged you to start this organization?
I am a Development Advisor, which means that I work with donors and raise money for FMSC. I helped bring the organization to AZ 10 years ago, so I started as a volunteer and a donor myself. I truly believe FMSC gives you the biggest bang for your buck of any non-profit that I have ever encountered.
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2. What motivates you? Describe your passion.
I believe that all children deserve a chance for a future. Our mission to feed kids in dire need around the world addresses that directly. We give them food, the foundation they need to survive, and it turn they receive hope and the chance at a meaningful life. I also love that we take volunteers as young as 5 years old. So we are making an impact on kids here in the US as well, giving them a fabulous volunteer experience that inspires them and lets them know that they can make a real difference in the world.
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3. Tell us about your goals.
I am currently working on a huge event in Dec. at the Phoenix Convention Center. Our goal is to pack 2 million meals with the help of more than 10,000 valley volunteers. Raising the $440,000 to fund the meals at this event is my current goal.
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4. What was the hardest/toughest moment you had to deal with? Obstacles you faced when dealing with bureaucracy, permits, funding, etc. Something you would like to point out to anyone who might be starting their own organization.
The most challenging thing for me is seeing how many people love our organization and volunteer frequently, but they don’t donate to help support what we do. There is a cost attached to every volunteer hour here, but donations aren’t mandatory. I’m constantly working on ways to inspire people to give what they can. Every extra dollar makes a huge impact and it only takes $80 to feed one child every day for an entire year!
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5. What was the most fulfilling moment that happened to you?
I was able to visit Haiti a few years ago to see our food in action. I had been with FMSC for 6 years at that point and I thought I truly understood what poverty and starvation looked like. I didn’t! It was so much worse than I imagined! But I experienced great joy in Haiti as well, seeing the difference a hot meal made in the life of these kids. It’s truly miraculous.
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6. What separates you from the rest? Why you?
FMSC has received Charity Navigator’s top rating for the past 12 years in a row, putting us in the top 1% of charities nationwide. We are super efficient, 91% of all donations we receive go directly to our feeding program. We also have THE best volunteer experience out there. Honestly, we have the whole package for people looking for a way to get involved and give back!
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7. Do you have any upcoming events in the forthcoming months?
Hope Filled Holiday on Dec. 1-3 at the Phoenix Convention Center. Registration opens to the public on Oct. 23rd. You can find it on our website under our MobilePack events. Our Mesa site is open 6 days a week, you can register for a 2 hour packing session on our website as well.
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8. What is it that you love most about what you do?
I love meeting people who have a heart for what we do. They recognize how blessed we are to live in the US and that we all should be doing more to take care of our brothers & sisters in need around the world. It restores my faith in humanity.
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9. What is the biggest challenge you’re faced with today?
Raising money is tough when so many organizations are asking for people’s support. We are special because a little really goes a long way with us, but it can be challenging to convince people that they need to give what they can. I think they often feel like someone else will do it so they don’t need to.
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10. Anything else you would like to add?
Please visit our website at www.fmsc.org to learn more!
Contact: How can people reach out to you? Your organization’s name, phone, address, e-mail and links to your social media.
Feed My Starving Children 1345 S. Alma School Rd., Mesa, AZ 85210 480-626-1970