Project Nourish
The Interim Response to Food Insecurity
With the food crisis worsening, the La Concorde School families face the horrendous decision of feeding their kids or providing them an education that could be the difference between a lifetime of poverty and a lifetime of stability. No family should have to make such a decision. In the past, we have partnered with organizations such as Feed My Starving Children to get meals to the students. However, these organizations are no longer able to make it safely into Haiti due to the gang violence and control, leaving a huge void in nutrition. In order to combat this, LOVE Takes Root has partnered with a dietician from Minnesota State University to create a high-protein, cost effective school lunch menu. This would ensure the students have proper meals during the week, taking the financial and emotional load off the families and setting the students up for a successful future.
Our Progress
What We Have Done
- Moved the garden within the walls of the property to stop people from stealing the produce
- Planted coconut and mango trees which produce multiple times a year
- Planted two varieties of yams which are rotated throughout the year, yielding multiple crops
- Planted bananas which give one crop a year
- Planted corn which gives one crop per year
- Continued using the rented land as garden space under the care of Africa, a Haitian man who is well-respected in the Jacmel community, who has agreed to take on the garden duties in exchange for produce for his family. All remaining produce will go to La Concorde.
- Partnered with the chicken and bread businesses from LOVE Takes Flight to receive any leftover bread and meat chickens.
What We Need
- The current projected cost of Project Nourish is $7,000/month. This includes:
- Salaries for fishermen, cooks, and staff
- Cost of food with buffer for price fluctuation
- Rice
- Corn
- Cooking oil
- Cost of propane
- The project is meant to bridge the divide between now and the eventuality of our partner, Feed My Starving Children, regaining access to Haiti and supporting our efforts to feed the school children. At this time, we expect to continue Project Nourish through the 2025-2026 school year.
Goals for Project Nourish
- School Lunch for 350:
- Rice and Herring Sauce ($42/40 people)
- Corn and Salmon Sauce ($40/40 people)
- We will start by alternating days between the upper and lower forms to allow the kitchen staff time to adjust their routine for feeding such a large number.
- On off days, students will be given a snack, such as bread with peanut butter, that is not cooked, to ensure a continued supply of protein and calories.
- Train young adults at the orphanage who are ineligible for LOVE Takes Flight to help with food prep and clean-up to teach them a skillset that can be easily transitioned to life outside the orphanage.
- Hire local fishermen to supply the necessary fish and purchase all other ingredients locally to help feed the Jacmel economy.
- Continue our search for on-going funding as well as sustainable and reliable food sources to offset costs and teach usable skills to the children and young adults of La Concorde Orphanage.
