MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. - What began as a simple idea—one priest trying to help the rural communities he grew up in—has quickly grown into a lifeline for villages across Ghana. Feed Ghana Inc., a small nonprofit based in Mt. Kisco and founded by Rev. Emmanuel Baffoe of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, has spent the past two years shipping medical equipment, food, and school supplies to some of the country’s most underserved communities.
But as the donations have poured in, so have the challenges—chief among them the cost of shipping. Since the organization began, Fr. Baffoe has personally spent thousands of dollars to get barrels and boxes of supplies overseas.
“Last year alone we shipped items that cost almost $8,000,” he said. “This year, with the donations increasing, we’re already around $14,000. I’ve been using my own money to make sure everything gets to the people who need it.”
A Growing Mission
Feed Ghana has quietly expanded well beyond food donations. The charity now collects wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, hospital beds, mattresses, medical supplies, school supplies of every kind, and feminine hygiene products—items that are scarce or simply unavailable in many rural Ghanaian clinics and schools.
When Fr. Baffoe travelled to Ghana last August, he visited elementary schools where many young girls had never seen a sanitary pad.
“Some of them had no idea how to manage their periods,” he said. “So I had to bring one of our nurses to teach them. These are the basic things we’re trying to address.”
Food donations often go directly to orphanages and children with autism or who have been abandoned. School supplies are distributed to elementary schools and boys’ high schools, with special attention given to remote villages.
Obstacles and Adjustments
Not all shipments arrive intact. During the most recent effort, one of the food barrels was broken into, and staples such as rice and oil were stolen.
“It was unfortunate,” Fr. Baffoe said. “We’re not sure if it happened at the port or during transport. But next time, we plan to purchase more food directly in Ghana, where it can be distributed more securely.”
Grassroots Effort
Feed Ghana is run by Fr. Baffoe and a small team of volunteers, including parishioners and Board of Director members Jill Carelli, Mary May, Carmela Tripodi, and Maria Nieves, who helped establish the nonprofit and now coordinates drives and outreach.
“We’ve gotten so many donations,” Carelli said. “Wheelchairs, medical supplies, food, school items—but shipping it has been expensive. We’re hoping the community can help.”
The organization operates with a simple philosophy: personal attention, integrity, and direct impact. “One dollar could save someone’s life,” Fr. Baffoe said. “One dollar brings a smile. You have no idea what it means to someone who receives even the simplest item.”
Fundraising Efforts
This year, the nonprofit launched its first Festival of Trees, inviting community groups and organizations to decorate artificial Christmas trees that were auctioned through a silent auction at St. Francis of Assisi Parish Hall. Proceeds will go directly toward shipping costs.
Feed Ghana also sells T-shirts and continues to accept monetary donations, item donations, and sponsorships. Checks may be mailed to the organization, and electronic donations can be made through Zelle using the email listed on their website.
Donations help ensure that the next shipment—already projected to cost around $10,000—can reach the clinics, schools, orphanages, and remote villages that rely on Feed Ghana’s support.
More information, including donation methods and photos of past distributions, can be found at FeedGhanaInc.com.
As Fr. Baffoe put it: “We appeal to people to remember—one small contribution can change a life.”
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here