In what history may view as the precursor to the Bahamian version of a United Way, a new charity announced that 13 organisations who feed the hungry have come together to create The National Feeding Network (NFN).
The news was unveiled during a press conference at Luciano’s, a venue, organisers said, that was a far cry from the soup kitchens, churches and other feeding locations where subsequent meetings of the charitable network will be held on a regular basis, sharing information, determining food allotments, creating efficiencies and dealing with operations.
“We believe that this is an historic day in the annals of charity and compassion in The Bahamas. Even as we sit here and eat at this luncheon, there are many out there who haven’t. The creation and launch of The Bahamas National Feeding Network will allow us to serve with far greater efficiency the thousands of people in this nation who depend on the kindness of others to keep from going to bed hungry,” said Felix Stubbs, who serves, along with attorney Sean Moree, as co-chairman.
“Some of these persons are elderly, or too ill to prepare their own meals, some simply too poor, others just afraid to leave their homes. And for years, organisations like The Salvation Army and Great Commission Ministries have been all that have stood between hunger and survival. Through the National Feeding Network, we will be able to deliver and distribute more food and serve more meals to more people with greater efficiency than ever before, maximizing every aspect from buying power to transportation.”
The idea of a network of charities has been almost two years in the making.
“On April 24th, 2012, representatives from various feeding center programs in Nassau met and began an informal conversation about how the various centers can best work together in such a way as to increase the efficiency of each center’s operations, as well as increase the effectiveness of the overall goal of feeding hungry persons,” explained Moree.
“The first meeting was hosted by His Excellency Frank Crothers and The Embassy of Malta, who has been an outstanding supporter ever since, and was co-chaired by Mr. Philip Smith, Kingdom Mercy Ministries, and Major Lester Ferguson, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army.”
Also participating in that first meeting were Great Commission Ministries, The Bahamas Red Cross, Bethel Baptist Church and Hands For Hunger. “Since that time, the idea has snowballed and today, we are proud to share the news that this network is now live and operational.”
In more than a dozen meetings following that initial April 2012 gathering, representatives continued to hammer out how a joint effort would work, how it might impact individual donations and loyalties built over the years and the best avenues for purchasing, storing and distributing foodstuffs.
“There are at least 54 known feeding centers/programs in Nassau alone, some having operated quietly for decades,” said Stubbs. “The National Feeding Network was formed to seek a way to focus on common issues including the scarcity of resources — personnel, finances, food supplies, non-food supplies – as well as the duplication of services. We will also seek to identify areas that are not served or under-served, improve communication, cooperation and collaboration, and discuss standards and best practices and a review of public/government policies in relation to feeding centers/programs.”
One of the most immediate tasks of the network will be to create an online database of all feeding centers with details of location, times, target group and contact information.
Organisers said they wanted to bring together as many representatives from feeding centers and programs as possible to coordinate efforts, exchange information and share resources with the goal of increasing the efficiency of each center’s operations and increase the effectiveness of the overall collective goal of feeding hungry persons.
From the initial group of five, the group has mushroomed to 13 who together feed upward of 900 persons a day. Participating groups include Great Commission Ministries, Bahamas Red Cross, Bethel Baptist Church, Embassy of The Order Of Malta, Hands For Hunger, Kingdom Mercy Ministries, The Salvation Army, Moseff House, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, The Anglican Diocese, ILHHICM, Save The Fathers and Family of Faith Ministry. Many of the organisations were represented at the launch.
ABOUT BAHAMAS NATIONAL FEEDING NETWORK Nearly two years in the development, the Bahamas National Feeding Network was officially launched December 2, 2013 to maximize effectiveness of common issues among more than 50 feeding centres currently operating in New Providence including scarcity of resources — personnel, finances, food supplies and non-food supplies, to minimize duplication of services, improve communications and collaboration, to develop an online database inclusive of times and locations of programs, to identify under-served or unserved areas and to provide a common platform for standards and best practices and the review of government and NGO policies related to feeding centres and programs. It is estimated that at the time of the launch, 54 feeding centres/programs in New Providence are feeding upwards of 900 persons a day.
Bahamas National Feeding Network Participating NGO’s
* Bahamas Red Cross
* Bethel Baptist Church
* Embassy of The Order of Malta
* Great Commission Ministries
* Hands For Hunger
* ILHHICM
* Kingdom Mercy Ministries
* Family of Faith Ministry
* Moseff House
* Save The Fathers
* Society of St. Vincent de Paul
* The Anglican Diocese
* The Salvation Army
Diane Phillips & Associates
Captions:
Directors – Philip Smith, Brian Moree, Felix Stubbs, HE Frank Crothers, Shayne Davis, Major Lester Ferguson] NATIONAL FEEDING NETWORK LAUNCHED – The National Feeding Network, an amalgmation of some 14 organizations who feed the hungry, was launched at a press conference at Luciano’s. Directors of The National Feeding Network are pictured. First row, l-r: Philip Smith, Brian Moree, Felix Stubbs and H.E. Frank Crothers, Ambassador of the Order of Malta. Back row, l-r: Shayne Davis & Major Lester Ferguson. (Photo by Derek Smith Jr.)
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS – Directors and beneficiaries of The National Feeding Network, an organization recently formed to seek a way to focus on common issues includig the scarcity of resources – personnel, finances, food, supplies, non-food supplies – as well as the duplication of services, recently unveiled the objective of the Network at a press conference held at Luciano’s. Particpating organizations include Great Commission Ministries, Bahamas Red Cross, Bethel Baptist Church, Embassy of The Order Of Malta, Hands For Hunger, Kingdom Mercy Ministries, The Salvation Army, Moseff House, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, The Anglican Diocese, ILHHICM, Save The Fathers and Family of Faith Ministry. (Photo by Derek Smith Jr.)
