FOOD FOR THE POOR, INC.

6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, FL 33073 (954) 427-2222 www.foodforthepoor.org

CONTACT:

Kathy Skipper Director of Public Relations (954) 427-2222, 6614 kathys@foodforthepoor.com

Three Girls Build a School for 350 Students in Haiti

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (March 29, 2012) When 12-year-old Rachel Wheeler met the college-aged twins who helped her build Rachels School through Food For The Poor, the reaction was what one would expect from a group of girls. Rachel talked and laughed and teased with Ashton and Chesney Hellmuth all the way from South Florida to Haiti. When they climbed off the bus in Leogane, however, and saw what they had done, they were silent with awe as they walked toward a crowd of children waiting for them outside a sturdy 10-classroom school, and singing a welcome song of gratitude. If you have a dream you follow it, and you dont let anyone stand in your way, Rachel told the crowd, when she found her voice. It doesnt matter if youre old or young like me and my friends Ashton and Chesney. Ecole Reap de Morel was destroyed during the earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010, but the principal and teachers were determined to continue educating the children in the community. With the help of the local residents and the church congregation, a shelter of wood, zinc and tarps was constructed to provide some protection from the elements. Bedsheets separated the classrooms with dirt floors. The new school, a source of pride for the community, was dedicated on Saturday. Rachels School is solidly built of concrete blocks with a zinc roof. The rooms are properly sized and ventilated so that the teachers and students have the best possible environment for learning. The school has 10 classrooms, a principals office, a staff room, canteen and kitchen. Im standing here today, so that from the bottom of my heart, I can say thank you, said Pastor Jacque Laguerre, who founded the original school in 1978. Since the earthquake destroyed it, Ive been praying and trying to know how to rebuild this school. I didnt know that it would be a little girl. People that God knew came to help us. There is no need to say anymore! Rachels youth and determination to make a difference have made an impression on many, including Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. From the very beginning, it was clear that Rachel had a heart for the poor, Mahfood said. She is a special child who listens to her heart, and is able to inspire others to follow theirs as well. We are grateful to her and we appreciate what her family and community have done to support her dreams. Her mother remembered that beginning at Food For The Poor in 2009, when she spoke to the community. When we first visited Food For The Poor, who knew that Mr. Mahfood would reach into my daughters heart and change it forever, said Julie Wheeler.

(more)

With the support of her classmates at Zion Lutheran Christian School in Deerfield Beach, Fla. and her hometown Lighthouse Point Chamber of Commerce, Rachel had bake sales, sold potholders and spoke on behalf of the poor to collect funds to build desperately needed homes and the school. Jayne Cunningham, principal of Zion Lutheran Christian School, traveled with the group of 18 to dedicate the school and hand-deliver 318 backpacks filled with school supplies, hygiene items and food donated by students at her school. Whats so overwhelming is so many times you donate money or goods but you dont really see the people receive them, Cunningham said. Its emotionally overwhelming to physically be able to come to another country and distribute what you collected. During the dedication ceremony, Everett Hellmuth reflected on what it meant for his family to become involved in the project. This is a place where big dreams can be found, he said. We chose to donate to Rachels school because we were encouraged by Rachel's determination to help improve the lives of the people of Haiti, and here we are today. With land now available, Rachels goal is to build homes for an additional 20 families in Rachels Village. To support Rachels building initiative, tax-deductible donations can be made through the charitys secure website at www.FoodForThePoor.org/rachel. Donations can also be mailed to Food For The Poor, 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, FL 33073. Please make checks payable to Food For The Poor and include the special source code SC# 82561 to accurately route your donation to the house-building effort. Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

-30-