Canadian Food for the Hungry

Infobox Non-profit
Non-profit_name = Canadian Food for the Hungry
Non-profit_
Non-profit_type =
founded_date =
founder =
location = Canada
origins =
key_people =
area_served = 12 countries
focus =
method =
revenue = 6 million
endowment =
num_volunteers = 250 in Canada
num_employees = 26 in Canada
num_members =
owner =
Non-profit_slogan = Hope For the Whole Person
homepage = [http://www.cfhi.ca cfhi.ca]
dissolved =
footnotes = Canadian Food for the Hungry International (CFHI) is a Christian international development agency dedicated to sustainable development worldwide.

CFHI engages and enables Canadians to enter into mutually transformational relationships with the poor and marginalized in the underdeveloped world by:- sending appropriate resources, people and ideas to the countries in which CFHI operates- influencing Canadian society by being a positive advocate for the poor- empowering Canadian communities in fulfilling holistic relationships locally and internationally.

CFHI is one of the leading organizations tapped by the federal government for food distribution programs abroad, through the Canadian International Development Agency.

CFHI is a member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities [http://www.cccc.org CCCC] and listed with the Canadian Revenue Agency [http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/sec/SrchInput03Render-e?bn=132152893RR0001 Revenue Canada]

President Ben Hoogendoorn

Ben Hoogendoorn is currently President and CEO of Canadian Food for the Hungry International (CFHI), based in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

Ben joined CFHI as a volunteer in 1997, then began working with the organization as Director of International Operations in 2001.

He was instrumental in establishing the integrated strategy for community development, ensuring that all programs in a specific country are of mutual benefit to each other. For 25 years prior to coming to CFHI, Ben owned and operated a successful farm equipment dealership in Vernon, BC.

Ben is a member of the Food for the Hungry International (FHI) Strategic Partnership Team. He serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Christian relief and Development Association ( [http://www.ccrda.ca/ CCRDA] ), which represents approximately 30 Christian non-governmental agencies based in Canada. He is also the incoming chair of the board of the British Columbia Council of International Cooperation ( [http://www.bccic.ca/ BCCIC] ), an organization representing all NGOs with offices in BC.

Areas of Work

Child SponsorshipIMED (Medical Equipment)Gift CatalogueDevelopment Projects

History

Food for the Hungry (FH) is an international relief and development organization working in more than 25 countries around the world. Food for the Hungry was founded in 1971 by Dr. Larry Ward.

Canadian Food for the Hungry International (CFHI) was established in 1988. It was birthed as an autonomous organization, working in an affiliated partnership with Food for the Hungry International (FHI).

In 1994, David Collins, a former pastor and missionary in Vietnam and the Philippines, was asked to accept the position of Executive Director. After months of personal study, investigating both FHI’s mission and his own theology, David Collins accepted the offer as he realized the significance of the biblical responsibility to respond to the needs of the poor and the hungry.

In 1994, Food for the Hungry Global began to enter a new level of ministry with the leadership embracing and casting a unified vision to end physical and spiritual hungers around the world. Food for the Hungry staff and volunteers put this vision into action by defining the building blocks or “backbone” of every developing country: the local community! There were three entities identified within communities that Food for the Hungry evaluated for their biblical health: the church, the leadership and the families. The collective plans for helping communities reach their God-given potential became known as the “Vision of Community,” and this biblical principle continues to undergird the ministry of Food for the Hungry and its affiliated partners today.

The Vision of Community was redefined in 2006, and the mission of FH was restated as: “to walk with churches, leaders and families in overcoming all forms of human poverty by living in healthy relationship with God and His creation”. The term “end to end transformation” was created in an effort to mobilize people in both the developed and developing nations and serve one another around the world in programs and initiatives that embody biblical principles and holistic ministry.

In 2001, there was an addition of a regional office in Saskatchewan which runs the International Medical Equipment Distribution Program (IMED), a program that collects, refurbishes, and ships used hospital equipment to hospitals that do have sufficient equipment to provide adequate health care to the people in their areas. IMED is also involved in the shipment of food and other supplies to relief situations when needed.

CFHI continues to partner with many different entities in Canada as it attempts to resource the sustainable development programs it supports world wide. This involves individual Canadians, churches, businesses, Foundations, and the Canadian Government through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) This is done by communicating the need that exists and the opportunity to provide assistance to change lives for people living in difficult circumstances. In 2005 David Collins stepped down as President/CEO to focus more exclusively on teaching a Biblical Worldview to Canadian churches and Christian leaders. Ben Hoogendoorn was named interim President/CEO and was officially appointed the formal title in Feb. 2006.

The organization has grown as they have partnered with local churches and are empowering the Church both in Canada and the developing world with the vision of reaching the poor and the hungry in their communities. CFHI has also embraced the concept of “end to end transformation” which allows the poor to be of benefit and influence to the non-poor by linking churches and groups in Canada with communities in the developing world.

References

* [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-79757455.html Presbyterian appointed director with Canadian Food for the Hungry International.(Gary Pluim selected as new director for Eastern Canada) Presbyterian Record, October 1, 2001]
* [http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/070830briefs News briefs – Canadian NGO helps Peru]
* [http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/cpo.nsf/vWebCCEn/AEF07DEAAA8252B08525703F003175F5 Canadian Food for the Hungry International - tsunami CIDA, February, 2005]

External links

* [http://www.cfhi.ca www.cfhi.ca] Official site