Fighting Poverty in The Dominican Republic

Fighting Poverty in The Dominican Republic
AN INSIGHT INTO FOOD FOR THE POOR OPERATIONS

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Dominican Republic Poverty Rates & Trends


23.9%

Poverty
Rate

2.5 million Dominicans lack basic necessities like food, shelter, and education.


0.8%

Extreme Poverty Rate

1.1 million people live on less than $1.90 daily.


6.7%

Malnutrition Rate

1.5 million children face higher risks of cognitive issues and severe illness.


$245

Monthly Minimum
wage

Low income families struggle to earn enough to meet their needs.

Political Instability

The Dominican Republic has been experiencing significant political instability, primarily driven by its complex relationship with neighboring Haiti. The ongoing crisis in Haiti, characterized by severe political, social, and economic turmoil, has substantial spillover effects on the Dominican Republic, leading to heightened security concerns and political tensions. Furthermore, there has been a general lack of confidence in political parties due to clientelism within the government.

Political Instability
Natural disasters

Natural disasters

The Dominican Republic frequently faces the impacts of natural disasters, including hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. These events often result in loss of life, infrastructure damage, and community displacement. For instance, Hurricane Maria in 2017 caused widespread devastation, including flooding, landslides, and power outages. Certain communities within the nation bear a disproportionate burden, encountering challenges in accessing essential resources such as clean water, food, and shelter, and enduring economic hardship due to lost livelihoods.

Natural disasters

The Dominican Republic frequently faces the impacts of natural disasters, including hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. These events often result in loss of life, infrastructure damage, and community displacement. For instance, Hurricane Maria in 2017 caused widespread devastation, including flooding, landslides, and power outages. Certain communities within the nation bear a disproportionate burden, encountering challenges in accessing essential resources such as clean water, food, and shelter, and enduring economic hardship due to lost livelihoods.

Natural disasters

Food insecurity

In 2023, approximately 1.2 million people, or 11% of the population, were experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity. An additional 22% were at risk of deteriorating into more severe food insecurity without adequate interventions. High food prices, driven by inflation and supply chain disruptions, have significantly reduced the purchasing power of vulnerable households. The annual food inflation rate was recorded at 6.1%.

Food insecurity

OUR WORK IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC



Empowering The Dominican Republic's journey out of poverty

Since 1982, Food For The Poor has actively fought the causes of poverty in the Latin America and the Caribbean. Recognizing the urgent need for transformation, we have developed programs that go beyond immediate relief. Through community development outreach and fostering self-reliance, we provide sustainable solutions. Join us in funding these programs to turn despair into resilience, promoting health, self-reliance, and breaking the cycle of poverty with simple, effective ideas that work.

Food Assistance in Dominican

Food Assistance

Food For The Poor works tirelessly to combat hunger and malnutrition by providing essential food supplies to vulnerable communities. Through strategic partnerships and community engagement, we ensure nutritious meals reach those most in need, improving their overall health and well-being.

Home Assistance in Dominican

Home Assistance

Our home assistance program is focused on cost effectiveness and agility. In a very short time span, we are able to build a home for $9,800 in a place where sourcing contruction materials is difficult and expensive. The program targets displaced population and families at risk. We keep striving to improve the performance of this program.

Education in Dominican

Education

We’re committed to providing access to quality education by constructing and supporting schools and equipping classrooms with essential supplies. Through this pillar, Food For The Poor aims to break the cycle of poverty by empowering children with knowledge and skills, fostering their intellectual growth, and opening doors to a brighter future.

Malnutrition in Dominican

Malnutrition

Through strategic partnerships and community engagement, Food For The Poor strives to improve nutritional outcomes, enhance food security, and promote the overall health and well-being of Dominicanans. We implement comprehensive programs focusing on nutrition education, access to nutrient-rich food, and health care interventions to address the root causes of malnutrition.

Health in Dominican

Health

We work to strengthen health care infrastructure, provide medical supplies and equipment and support health education initiatives. Through partnerships with local health care providers and community engagement, Food For The Poor aims to enhance primary health care services, reduce the prevalence of diseases.

Micro Enterprise in Dominican

Micro Enterprise

Food For The Poor empowers individuals and communities through sustainable economic opportunities. We provide entrepreneurs with training, resources, and support to establish and expand their small businesses. Through this pillar, Food For The Poor is transforming lives, promoting economic independence, and paving the way for a brighter future in the Dominican Republic.




Together We Can
Break The Poverty Cycle

Help us fund the Dominican Republic's journey out of poverty with a donation. Together we can empower families to become self-sufficient and build stronger communities through sustainable development. Poverty in the Dominican Republic can be overcome.

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FFTP in The Dominican Republic Poverty Relief


DOMINICAN REPUBLIC OPERATIONS HIGHLIGHTS

2022

  • Food For The Poor shipped $22,166,628 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • Caritas Dominicana: Food For The Poor strategically partnered with Caritas Dominicana, based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to expand its reach nationwide beyond two dioceses.
  • Hurricane Fiona: Food For The Poor distributed 500 disaster kits to families in hard-hit communities within Higuey in the province of La Altagracia.

2021

  • Food For The Poor shipped $27,504,194 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • Covid-19 Relief: 29 tractor-trailer loads of items specifically for COVID-19 relief.
  • Housing: Built 132 homes in the Dominican Republic, bringing the total built since inception to 1,694.
  • Santiago Housing Project: Food For The Poor began working with Caritas Archdiocese of Santiago to establish the Santiago Housing Project.

2020

  • Food For The Poor shipped $39,530,972 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • FFTP and Parnters: Food For The Poor, along with partners MAP International and Edwards Lifesciences, supplies monitoring technologies to six hospitals in the Dominican Republic for critical COVID-19 patient care.
  • Medical Highlights: 30 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic filled with medicine and medical supplies.

2019

  • Food For The Poor shipped $59,258,443 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • Cochlear Implants: Food For The Poor donors enabled a 5-year-old girl to hear for the first time in her life by providing cochlear implants.
  • Medical Highlights: 30 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic filled with medicine and medical supplies.

2018

  • Food For The Poor shipped $23,854,292 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • Water Project: Food For The Poor launched the Angostura Water Project, one of over 40 initiatives aimed at providing drinking water to residents in remote areas.
  • Medical Highlights: 21 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic filled with medicine and medical supplies.

2017

  • Food For The Poor shipped $46,903,184 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • Medical Highlights: 23 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic filled with medicine and medical supplies.

2016

  • Hato Del Yaque Health Cente: Thanks to donors, Food For The Poor built the Hato Del Yaque Health Center. It provides free medical care for elderly patients in need, with a small fee for those who can afford it, ensuring sustainability.

2014

  • Food For The Poor shipped $71,220,382 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • Medical Highlights: 51 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic filled with medicine and medical supplies.

2013

  • Food For The Poor shipped $109,512,777 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • UPS: Food For The Poor, in partnership with UPS, installed a 12,000-gallon water tank in Rancho Nuevo, near Puerto Plata, and built a 3,000 square-foot greenhouse in Batey Antonci, Monte Plata.
  • Operation Startfish Program: Food For The Poor, with local partners Caritas D.R. and Church of the Nativity in Burke, Va., inaugurated the eighth greenhouse in the Dominican Republic. This project under the Food For The Poor Operation Starfish program aims to empower families with vegetable cultivation skills.
  • Medical Highlights: 11 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic filled with medicine and medical supplies.

2012

  • Food For The Poor shipped $56,033,021 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • Medical Highlights: 28 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic filled with medicine and medical supplies.
  • FFTP and UPS Partnership: Food For The Poor and UPS have installed a 12,000-gallon concrete water tank for the Rancho Nuevo community near Puerto Plata, along with a 3,000 square-foot greenhouse in Batey Antonci, Monte Plata.

2011

  • Food For The Poor shipped $65,767,541 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • Medical Highlights: 41 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic filled with medicine and medical supplies.

2010

  • Food For The Poor shipped $63,814,916 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • Medical Highlights: 37 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic filled with medicine and medical supplies.

2009

  • Food For The Poor shipped $70,384,143 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • Tilapia Farming: Food For The Poor coordinated the release of 50,000 tilapia fingerlings donated by Taiwan's ICDF to the Río Baquí Tilapia Center, in collaboration with CIMPA and the Diocese of Puerto Plata. These complemented an initial donation of 47,000, launching a project to support local families with both food and income.
  • Medical Highlights: 22.5 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic filled with medicine and medical supplies.

2008

  • Food For The Poor shipped $127,126,543 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • Tilapia Farming: Food For The Poor and Taiwan's ICDF launched the La Siembra Vieja Tilapia Project, promoting multi-pond fish farming to boost food production. The initiative also includes 76 double homes, latrines, water supply, a school facility, and a multi-purpose clinic.
  • Hurricane Relief Aie: 21 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic for hurricane season relief aid.
  • Medical Highlights: 51.5 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic filled with medicine and medical supplies.

2007

  • Food For The Poor shipped $127,126,543 million worth of aid to the Dominican Republic.
  • Tropical Storm Noel: 18 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic for aid.
  • Hurricane Dean: 5 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic for aid.
  • Medical Highlights: 41.5 Tractor-trailers shipped to the Dominican Republic filled with medicine and medical supplies.

2003

  • Presidential Initiative Program: Food For The Poor shipped 375,000 pounds of dry milk to support feeding programs for children, the elderly, and those in need, funded by a grant from the USDA's 416(b) Presidential Initiative Program.

2000

  • In-Country Partners: Food For The Poor partnered with Caritas Puerto Plata, Fundación Cruz Jiminián, and the Asociación Dominicana de la Orden de Malta to distribute medicine and medical supplies across the Dominican Republic.

Impact Another Person’s Life with Dignity and Care

Help us fund a family’s journey out of poverty with a donation. Browse through our gift catalog to provide immediate relief, bolster self-reliance, or bring hope. With a simple act of solidarity, you can truly impact someone’s life for the better.

  • Feed a Hungry Family for a Month
    Feed a Hungry Family for a Month
    $27.00
  • Help Build a House
    Help Build a House
    $4,900.00
  • Feed a Child for a Year
    Feed a Child for a Year
    $80.00

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