On January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the poor Caribbean nation of Haiti killing an estimated 230,000 people and leaving many more stunned, injured, and homeless.

The health of many Haitian children, already malnourished due to their poor diet, would now be seriously threatened by the lack of proper nutrition that would be seen in the weeks and months that followed.

Food For Famine Society recognized Haiti’s future need for a Ready to Use Therapeutic Food like Cibo, and went into action.  Donors, family, friends, companies and churches donated funds, time, and facilities to produced 13,800 kgs of Cibo for the children of Haiti.

Bruce Beer of Norma’s Bakery, Chilliwack, generously offered to mix initial batch of Cibo (50 buckets).  This was to take care of immediate needs of relief workers to Haiti while Food for Famine Society awaited supplies, donations, and a facility to make a much larger batch.

On February 5^th a 7,064 kgs  batch of Cibo was made at Nanak Foods in Surrey.  Pallets of Peanut Paste, Milk Powder, Whey Protein, Oil, Maltodextrin, Sugar, and Vitamins & Minerals arrived on site.  Management of Nanak offered their production facility at no cost, and volunteers from Nanak Foods graciously offered their time to help supervise family, friends, and other volunteers who came to make the Cibo.    This event was repeated on February 12^th when another 6,336 kgs was mixed at Nanak.

Over 10,560 kgs of Cibo (1,320 buckets) will be distributed by Global Aid Network in Haiti.  Global Aid works with Haiti One, an umbrella organization of numerous agencies already working in Haiti.  960 kgs (120 buckets) has been given to Childcare Worldwide for distribution to their partner facilities that treat malnourished children.  Canadian Foundation for the Children of Haiti has also taken delivery of 960 kgs (120 buckets) destined for their pediatric hospital, school, nursery and orphanage in Port au Prince.

Ernie Charlton, a director of Food For Famine Society, visited Haiti during the first week of March in order to clarify the needs of those organizations who would be receiving shipment of Cibo within the next month.  He met with Dr. Renaud of Childcare Worldwide .  He also met with Gladys Thomas, a founder of Hope Hospital in Port au Prince.

Food For Famine Society would like to thank the many individual donors and volunteers who have made possible the production of so much Cibo in so little time.  We wish to express our gratitude to Central Community Church and the Church of God in Chilliwack whose congregations made generous donations to this project, the Chilliwack Real Estate Board, Sutton Showplace Realty, the Chilliwack Progress, and Star FM for their fundraising efforts, and to Bruce Beer of Norma’s Bakery of Chilliwack and the management and staff of Nanak Foods of Surrey who generously gave above and beyond all expectations.