USA (MNN) — Give from your heart this Valentine's Day to children living in poverty through the Food for the Hungry HEART fund: a special fund to help impoverished children receive treatment for life-threatening health emergencies.
When a sponsored child is found to have a life-threatening illness, that child's family can apply to the HEART fund. If they qualify and funds are available, FH staff walk the child and their family through the process with doctors, hospitals, and surgeries.
One example is Jeffrey, a sponsored child from the Philippines. He was ten years old when he became a sponsored child through Food for the Hungry in the Philippines. He is the second child and only son in his family. His parents are farmers in the small community of Laguna, Philippines.
One of the benefits of being an FH sponsored child is receiving health check-ups once a year. It was during one of these health check-ups that Jeffrey's congenital heart defect was noticed by a doctor.
"I didn't have any clue that my heart was not healthy–only occasional shortness of breath, which I thought was normal after playing a game," Jeffrey said.
Jeffrey received his life-changing surgery in 2006. The funds were made possible by a generous donation from a woman who sells Arabian Horses.
After selling a horse to a long-time advocate and photographer for Food for the Hungry, she became aware of a need for funds for emergency medical procedures, specifically Jeffrey's.
A few months later, a young girl in Peru was also in need of a heart transplant. This woman began giving a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each horse to Food for the Hungry, specifically for the use of emergency health.
In the past year, FH has funded five surgeries. The HEART fund is in constant demand by families. And FH needs your help to keep this fund going. Not only is it giving physical life, but it provides an avenue to share Christ.
