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Feeding the Body, Mind, and Spirit of our Brothers and Sisters in Need . . . Locally and Around the World

Haiti Update

Current Situation:

Haiti continues to face a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, worsened by escalating gang violence since February 2024. About 80% of Port-au-Prince is under gang control, disrupting essential service and closing key infrastructure like the international airport and main port. Looting and instability have triggered a severe food insecurity crisis affecting half the population.

Key Challenges Include:

Food Insecurity: 5.4 million Haitians face acute hunger; 2 million are in emergency conditions.

Displacement: 1 million people, half of them children, are internally displaced due to conflicts and natural disasters.

Child Endangerment: Children are at risk of gang recruitment, malnutrition, trauma, and lack of education.

Gender-Based Violence: A sharp increase in violence, especially against women and girls.

Healthcare Collapse: Over 80,000 suspected cholera cases since 2022; healthcare is critically under-resourced.

Despite these conditions, the Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive Ministry continues to make an impact. The area around Cap Haitien and St. Marc School remains safe and free of gangs, however, there are other challenges that we are facing.

Two of the 2024 shipping containers, one from the MMWHD and one donated by Servants With A Heart, both destined for St. Marc’s School, remain held in customs due to the demand for payment of excessive duty charges. The Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) continue to work with the Haitian Archbishop to get these excessive duty charges reduced and the containers released. As a result, we will not be shipping any containers to Haiti in 2025. It simply is much too risky.

Our 2025 Response:

The Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive Ministry will continue to support our brothers and sisters in Haiti, but in different ways:

We continue to work with the MOP, Father Ho Lung, Food for the Poor, Father Leon from St. Marc School, and the Haitian Archbishop to free the two ransomed containers.

Until container shipping resumes, food and other critical supplies will be purchased by the MOP Brothers locally but at a cost expected to be 20% to 30% higher than if purchased in the US and shipped to Haiti. While this approach is more costly, it supports the local economy and indirectly benefits farmers.

The monthly funding needed to facilitate local purchasing for food and supplies for the MOP and St. Marc’s School is estimated to be $25,000 per month.

In addition, The MMWHD Ministry will continue to provide critical funding and support for Haitian sustainability and education initiatives, including:

• Christian-based education for Haitian children (St. Marc’s School – Pre K to Grade 13).
• Trade school support and expansion initiatives:
  • Sewing Trade School
  • Welding and Solar Trade School
  • Agricultural Trade School
• Tilapia harvests and egg production
• Irrigation, clean water (wells) and solar power initiatives

We will also continue to support:

• Feeding children at a boy’s hostel in India (Father Davis’s Home Diocese).
• Feeding children at an orphanage in a parish in Venezuela.
• Providing food and funds to assist Charlotte area food banks.

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How You Can Participate in this Year’s Event

This year marks the 23rd year of our Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive, and more than ever, we are counting on your generosity to help us reach our goal and continue our mission to provide food and support to the hungry and homeless locally and around the world.

The drive will be conducted in two parts:

Part 1: Fundraising (Two Opportunities)

The fundraising campaign will take place from July 12 – August 3. The goal is to raise $400,000 which will be used to:

• Provide funding for the Missionaries of the Poor to purchase food and critical supplies for distribution in Cap Haitien.
• Continue to fund sustainability projects including subsidizing the education of students at St. Marc School; expanding the sewing trade school and the agricultural trade school; starting a welding and solar trade school; continuing to invest in irrigation, wells for clean water, and solar power initiatives; and continuing to support tilapia harvest and egg production.
• Continue to support feeding children in Venezuela and a boy’s hostel in India.
• Provide food and funds to assist Charlotte area food banks.

Donate today – Our donation guide provides a detailed breakdown of how your contributions directly impact the lives of those in need. It shows the cost to feed a child and a family for a year, the cost of purchasing bulk rice, the cost of education, and more. This way, you can see exactly how your generosity makes a difference.

Part 2: Meal-packing Event

Join us for the in-person meal-packing event which will take place in the St. Matthew Parish Center on Saturday, August 16. The goal is to assemble 300,000 meals. It takes a village – please consider signing up to help! Meals from our meal-packing event this year will be sent to Atulado Ministries in Cuba where the meals will be distributed to churches feeding the poor in their communities.  

In addition to packing meals, many other volunteer opportunities are available to support this important event. Our meal-packing events are a great way for individuals and families of all ages to work together, have fun, and fulfill our mission of serving our brothers and sisters in need, locally and around the world.

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“Do you want to do something beautiful for God? There is a person who needs you. This is your chance.” – Mother Teresa

Thank you for your gift of love. We are truly one family, connected in Christ and moved by the Spirit.