We are so excited to announce that after 10 long months, the 142,560 meals that we’ve been working on sending to Ethiopia with Kids Against Hunger have finally arrived!
You can read more about the container here: https://blessingthechildren.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/praise_report_142560_nutritious_meals/
It was a long and tedious process with unexpected barriers and set backs, but the meals made it to our office in Ethiopia! In the process, the container incurred additional charges that we were not aware of.
The government allows the sending of food to a registered Ethiopian NGO (non-government agency) to be duty free and since Blessing the Children is a registered NGO in Ethiopia, we were able to receive the meals duty free. What they did not tell us until the meals were in the country is that there is a consumables tax, container insurance, storage and transport fees that totaled $6,800.
In order to stop the container from incurring any additional charges, our staff borrowed these funds to pay the taxes and release the container from the customs office.
The good news is, we have the meals!
KAH Meals at the BCI Ethiopian Office
The bad news is, we need to repay the funds that were borrowed to obtain the 142,560 meals.
We have already begun blessing families with these meals and doing family training on how to prepare the meals.
In Ethiopia, their staple food is Injera and Wot. Injera is like a sourdough crepe and Wot is a type of stew (made with various types if meat) that is poured over the Injera. Rice, the main component of the KAH meals, is not a commonly used food item so many Ethiopians don’t know how to prepare these meals and cannot read the English instructions on the package. For this reason, we have begun holding training sessions for the families at the BCI Academy, showing them how to prepare the meals and how to add fresh onions, garlic and oil to enhance the flavors of the meals.
Injera & Wot, traditional Ethiopian dish
We are already seeing the blessing that these meals are having on the community and we pray that you would consider making a donation to help us repay the borrowed funds.
If you or someone you know can help with this urgent need, you can make your donation online, via mail, email or phone.
Online | http://www.BlessingtheChildren.org/Donate
Email | Info@BlessingtheChildren.org
Phone | 989-667-8850
Mail | Blessing the Children, 2265 Fraser Road, Kawkawlin, MI 48631
Meal Prep Training at the BCI Academy
Meal Prep Training at the BCI Academy
Blessing the Children International 