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Convoy of Hope - A Driving Passion to Feed the World
By:
Special K
HISTORY
In 2010, Convoy of Hope assisted nearly 8 million people in the United States and around the world by providing food, clothing, medical aid, and other needed resources through our community outreaches and disaster response arms.
The mission of Convoy of Hope is simple - we exist to feed millions of people in need in the United States and around the world through children’s nutrition initiatives, citywide outreaches and disaster response.
Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope, knows how powerful compassion can be. On August 25, 1969, his parents, Harold and Betty Donaldson, were hit head-on by a drunk driver. Harold was killed; Betty was incapacitated for some time. Hal and his younger siblings quickly learned what it was like to live without many of life’s basic necessities.
However people from local churches and the community assisted the family by providing food and shelter. Those generous acts gave the Donaldson kids a sense of hope and also a determination to one day help others in need.
In 1994 Convoy of Hope was formed and has morphed into a global movement where churches, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations join forces to carry out Convoy of Hope’s mission, which is to feed the world through feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing. 
In 16 years Convoy of Hope has helped more than 51 MILLION people in more than 100 countries. In that time we have also given away more than $287 million worth of food and supplies to people in need.
Currently, there are more than 100,000+ children in our feeding initiatives in El Salvador, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Kenya, Nicaragua and the Philippines. Through the feeding initiatives we provide good nutrition, clean and safe drinking water, instruction on agricultural techniques, healthy living environments and education. Year after year, we are lauded for our effectiveness and efficiency in mobilizing tens of thousands of volunteers for community outreaches and during times of disaster response.
No matter what we are doing, our objective is to always deliver much-needed food, supplies and hope to the impoverished and suffering.
What We Do
At Convoy of Hope our goals are to provide help and hope to people in need in the United States and around world through our children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing.
How We Do It
Children’s Feeding Initiatives
With millions of children going hungry and lacking access to clean drinking water each day we focus heavily on providing the basic necessities of life to those in need. Currently, Convoy of Hope is expanding its feeding initiatives to more than 100,000+ children in seven nations. We also provide clean and safe water, teach community leaders agricultural techniques and help provide healthy living environments and education.
Community Outreaches
Each year in the United States we hold up to 50 community outreaches with the help of thousands of volunteers who serve tens of thousands of guests. At each outreach free groceries, job and health fairs, and activities for children are provided. In doing so, volunteers are given an opportunity to connect with members of their community, and guests are shown love and respect regardless of age, race, physical appearance, or spiritual condition.
Disaster Response
Convoy of Hope is considered a “first responder” organization in disaster relief. With a fleet of tractor-trailers, a 300,000-square-foot warehouse, a high-tech Mobile Command Center and through a scalable distribution model we have been heralded for quickly providing resources and help to victims of disasters worldwide.
We rely heavily on the faith-based community, businesses and national and state disaster relief agencies and organizations. Because of strong alliances, we were one of the first humanitarian aid groups to distribute food in Haiti after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the country on January 12, 2010.
Partner Resourcing
Convoy of Hope believes in supporting the work of like-minded organizations throughout the world. Through partner resourcing, we have empowered hundreds of organizations by providing the food and supplies they need to make a positive difference in their communities.
Dr. Ron Paul on Convoy of Hope (Video):
Capacity
Since 1994, Convoy of Hope has relied on its expertise in logistics, quality products and determined people to fulfill its mission to feed the world. To meet the pressing needs represented among the poor and suffering, the organization constantly evaluates its capacity and makes adjustments as necessary to stay lockstep with needs and opportunities in the United States and throughout the world.
* 300,000 square ft. World Distribution Center
* 6 International distribution centers
* Fleet of Trucks in multiple countries
* Over 23,000 Churches/Organizations involved
* Over 1,200 Volunteer Teams
* $277,103,322 of gifts in kind to date
* 354,752 volunteers mobilized
*As of February 2012
Where We Go
In the past 15 years, Convoy of Hope has been active in 46 states and over 109 countries providing disaster response, conducting community events, and directing nutritional programs and sustainability projects.
Convoy of Hope’s headquarters, warehouse and distribution center are located in Springfield, Missouri at the crossroads of America, where U.S. 65 and I-44 intersect. Springfield is an ideal location for the rapid transportation of goods. Loads of food and other relief supplies are transferred to and from the warehouse weekly. By the end of 2009, the organization’s fleet of trucks had delivered nearly $180 million worth of food and supplies to those in need. In 2009 alone, the services of Convoy of Hope touched the lives of over 6.8 million people, including those affected by disasters in 15 countries.
Partnering with individuals, churches, community organizations, corporate donors, and government, Convoy of Hope has been able to provide real help and lasting hope to people in need all around the world.
Community Outreach
Convoy of Hope is a faith-based organization with a driving passion to feed the world. Our children’s feeding initiatives are a result of that.
The goal of our children’s feeding initiatives is to see lives changed as we promote healthy children, community sustainability, and development. To accomplish our goal we believe that we must go beyond the basic meal to intervene at five levels: nutrition, clean and safe water, agricultural initiatives, healthy living environments, and education. 
Nutritious meals
We feed and monitor the health and growth of children each day in far-flung places such as El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Nicaragua and the Philippines.
We implement appropriate sustainability programs based on the needs represented in each country.
Clean and Safe Water
Clean water is life sustaining. That’s why Convoy of Hope has committed to the collection of water, distribution of water filtration systems, and training and equipping local partners where safe water is not available.
We empower the local church, mission workers and non-governmental organizations.
Agricultural Initiatives
Poverty and dependency on food aid are alleviated when we teach agricultural techniques that allow families to grow nutritious food, raise livestock and sell their surpluses for profit.
We feed children while moving toward sustainability. Healthy Living Environments
Dangerous structures and improper sanitation can derail a child’s education. We create healthy living environments by teaching appropriate sanitation practices, completing school rehabilitation projects and showing locals how to build proper latrines.
We conduct regular evaluations that determine when programs will be implemented or adjusted.
Education
Investing in the teaching of job skills, basic financial practices and methods for starting and maintaining small businesses creates sustainability and productive lives.
We empower personal and economic growth. How can Convoy of Hope continue to touch millions each year? Only through the help and partnership of faithful contributors and volunteers! There are many avenues for you to engage and help Convoy of Hope.
Personal, corporate, and workplace donations are instrumental to success, as well as dedicated volunteers. Please use the links above to find an area of interest or use the contact page for inquiries and comments.
Visit their webpage at ConvoyofHope.Org for more information.To find featured news on Convoy of Hope and upcoming outreach events, go to DeMossNews.Com/ConvoyOfHope
04-10-12 Hour 3 (VIDEO) Ernest talks with
Jeff Nene of ConvoyOfHope.Org:
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