Our strength in emergency response and preparedness is enabled by our partners in Canada, the United States, and in the countries we support 365 days of the year with ongoing development and aid.

Donate to Emergency Response and Preparedness

Emergency response and preparedness falls under our Food and Health impact area’s. Here’s how:

FFPC prepares year-round, in advance of natural disasters and in the spring for hurricane season, by sourcing water purification tablets, food, and medicine as well as other emergency supplies. These supplies are positioned on the ground with our in-country partners where possible, so that they can be accessed and used to respond immediately to communities with clean water, emergency supplies, and food.

During an emergency, FFPC is able to receive real-time updates about the need on the ground and coordinate to ensure aid is delivered efficiently, using a well-established distribution infrastructure and local networks of strong in-country partners. After a disaster strikes, we work with these contacts to address the immediate needs of a community by providing emergency supplies. FFPC also provides building materials to help build and repair homes and community buildings that have been destroyed.

FFTP has current agreements with 17 countries who are active in disaster response; FFPC is able to work with any of the country partners in the case of an emergency. We have the capacity to create new partnerships as needed because of our competency and networks in Latin America and the Caribbean.

FFPC has been working with in-country partner Food For The Poor Haiti after the earthquake on August 14th to supply the country with emergency supplies and food.

Please donate today to send supplies to equip communities with the immediate items they need to get through the emergency and to support families in Haiti affected by the earthquake.

To hear Bishop Oge Beauvoir, Executive Director of FFTP Haiti, talk about the impact of the earthquake, how the charity is responding, and the emergency relief items needed, click here.

Summer 2021

FFPC has been working on an emergency preparedness pilot project in collaboration with FFTP Inc. to have goods placed on the ground, ready to be deployed in the event of an emergency.

With the support of a donor, we purchased over 3,800,000 water purification tablets and are working to include them in emergency kits provided to families in Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, and Trinidad. Each kit contains: a tarp, blankets, hygiene kit with items such as shampoo, bar of soap, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant, a children’s activity kit with crayons and notebooks, a solar and hand crack lantern, and more.

With these kits being readily available in-country, FFPC can respond quickly and efficiently shortly after relief efforts are needed.

Support Our Emergency Response

April 12, 2021

The eruption of La Soufriere Volcano in St. Vincent forced families and children to evacuate on cruise ships and shelters on neighbouring islands. FFP worked with in-country partners, Caritas Antilles, FEEL, and local coast guards to assist the relief efforts from St. Lucia, Trinidad, and Barbados. Relief efforts involved the distribution of food and hand sanitizer to shelters accepting evacuees and distribution of disaster aid kits including blankets, hygiene kits, and children’s activity books to displaced families. FFP also actively supported the aid efforts in St. Vincent with local partner Diocese of Kingstown.

Support St. Vincent Volcano Relief

March 2021

With the COVID-19 vaccination rollout being implemented all around the world, Food For The Poor Canada (FFPC) is working with its in-country partners and the respective Ministries of Health to provide vaccination support to as many communities as possible through the procurement and donation of essential medical supplies.

Through this collaboration, FFPC is determining the needs of each country in order to provide urgently needed items such as syringes, needles, sharps disposal kits, hand sanitizer, PPE, and other requested medical supplies to vaccinate communities safely and quickly.

You can help stop the spread of the virus, and save lives in Latin America and the Caribbean, by supporting FFPC with its vaccination rollout efforts.


February 2021

Food For The Poor Canada continues to proactively and effectively respond to the pandemic in Caribbean and Latin American regions. Food For The Poor Canada’s emergency response is focusing on providing medical supplies and food. Local partners have expressed concern for the growing food shortages and mounting food insecurity, especially within vulnerable communities. FFPC uses a strong network of Canadian and Caribbean partners rooted in the communities it serves with the capacity for effective and accountable distribution and project management.

Since March 2020, FFPC donors have provided:

  • Over 7.8 million meals of dried vegetable soup mix, rice, and beans
  • PPE in the form of face shields and hand sanitizer
  • 100 hospital mattresses that are made in Jamaica and easily sanitized
  • Respiratory spacers, pediatric medicine, first aid supplies, and medical inhalers for individuals with asthma and COPD

March 2020

In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world are scrambling to source adequate medical supplies to brace for a surge of patients who will need care. We are thankful for strong leadership and safety nets provided by the Government of Canada and the Canadian healthcare system. Many countries are struggling to cope with this pandemic. For example, health care systems in the Caribbean and Latin America are already fragile and the spread of COVID-19 has the potential to further cripple their health care systems.

Food For The Poor Canada remains committed to helping communities across the Caribbean and Latin America by responding to this crisis with a two-fold approach. Our in-country partners have identified a dire need for hospital equipment and supplies to prepare for the virus and we must ensure that regular shipments of food and medicines are not impacted or halted during this time.

We are working with our partners to source hospital equipment and supplies to help patients severely affected by COVID-19. Furthermore, we know that hundreds of feeding enters, local charities, churches and community centres rely on consistent food deliveries through FFPC, so these shipments are even more important at this critical time.

Learn More About FFPC's COVID-19 Response

Hurricane Eta has caused severe flooding across Honduras, Jamaica and neighbouring countries.

Thousands have lost their homes, their possessions and most tragically, loved ones. Roads have become rivers and many families have been stranded without a way to access food or clean water. Families have had to evacuate areas at risk of mud slides and seek shelter elsewhere.

FFPC has been working with our in-country partner CEPUDO during the pandemic to deliver and distribute food aid. Now, this natural disaster has only increased the urgency and need for immediate food and supplies.


Hurricane Dorian is an incredibly strong Category 5 hurricane with winds of up to 220 km an hour.

Working with our US counterpart, Food For The Poor, Inc., we had the necessary supplies to respond to this hurricane including two-burner gas stoves, tarps, cleaning supplies, and personal care items. Thank you for helping us provide emergency relief in the midst of the devastation that Dorian left behind, affecting thousands of Bahamians.

Read below to learn more about FFPC’s emergency response.

Hurricane Dorian Update