As a former missionary (2018-19) and current donor and supporter, I strongly encourage you to support the Farm of the Child. I am an elementary school teacher who has served in various underserved communities both in the U.S. and in Honduras. At the Farm, children are cared for holistically, by dedicated Honduran staff and international volunteers. Not only does the Farm offer a safe home to children and teenagers who have experienced extreme abuse and neglect, but it also is a haven and hope to the local community. The Farm elementary and middle school provides a quality education to 100+ students, K-9th grade provided by excellent Honduran teachers, offering local students a pathway out of extreme poverty. In a country plagued by high student dropout rates, the Farm school offers families hope and opportunity. Additionally, the health clinic on site at the farm serves the rural poor who would otherwise have little or no access to quality health care. Please consider donating to this worthy cause to help at-risk children, build up a generation of educated Honduran youth, and provide access to health care to those without means.
The three years I spent as a missionary at Farm of the Child were the most formative and rewarding years of my life. As I bore witness to the suffering of this poverty-stricken area of Honduras, I came to understand on a deeper level the significance of the cross as well as the need for the resurrection. I learned to be a seeker of joy and to delight in the simple things - a hug from one of my Kindergarteners, a freshly made flour tortilla, a good conversation with one of the house aunts. I saw firsthand the impact a loving and stable home has on a child's ability to grow, thrive and overcome the trauma in their past. Farm of the Child's commitment to welcome and love children who have previously fallen through the cracks is unparalleled and inspiring! The mission of Farm of the child will always live on in my heart and the organization will always have my support. - M. Jorgenson
My time and journey with Farm of Child has impacted my life considerably. If I had to give an elevator pitch for the Farm, I would take two routes. The first route that I would take would be to talk about one of my kindergarten students, Alba. Alba arrived at the Farm six months before I started teaching her. Alba was rescued from a tragic home life filled with extreme neglect, tragic abuse, and many other forms of trauma. In my first days as her teacher, Alba would run out of the classroom, yell, hit other students, and scream without reason. To help her learn, one of my fellow missionaries was Alba's "special education" teacher. She would sit next to Alba and give her encouragement, take her for breaks when she needed them, and sometimes walk with her home if the school day was just too much. By the middle of the school year, Alba didn't need individualized attention anymore and she was able to be in our classroom without her special education teacher. Less than one year of living at the Farm of the Child, Alba learned to adapt to a community that loved and cared for her. Alba will turn 18 this year and plans to attend university -- a dream that is also a reality for Alba in thanks to her education at the Farm and the formation she has received. When asked what she wants to do with her life, Alba says "I want to be a lawyer and advocate for children who experience abuse." Alba has taken the gift that she was given and wants to share that gift with others -- caring for those who suffered in the way she suffered.
The second route I would take to share about the Farm of the Child would be to share how far your donation goes. For $400,000/year, the Farm is home to 20 children, educates 120 in our kindergarten through 9th-grade Catholic school, provides medical care to several villages, and employs over 30 Hondurans in an area that is stricken with unemployment and poverty. The Franciscan Sisters who serve at the Farm provide catechesis and work with the Parish priest so that Catholics can receive their Sacraments. It is amazing to know how far your donation goes!!
I first heard about Farm of the Child through my church many years ago. When I heard about the level of poverty in this rural area of Honduras, I was moved to tears and knew that I wanted to help in any way that I could. I have learned, after many years of being involved with Farm of the Child, that their model of care, attention to detail, the amazing board of directors and the love from all who come in contact with them, there is no place that I trust more with my donations. I know the children are getting the best care possible, the surrounding community now has access to medical care and education, and they provide jobs to many in the community. God bless this organization and all of the lives that it touches.
My family and I have been a part of the Farm of the Child for over a decade. My daughter, Tiffany, served as a missionary for 2 years. We have travel to the Farm and brought several mission groups to visit.
It is an amazing place where our children get a fresh, safe, and loving new beginning. This place has cared for countless children over it's more than 25 years. They have also cared for the surrounding community with medical care, education from the school, and food.
It has been such a blessing for so many and I am thankful to be on their Board of Directors
Catherine Ross
I have been a part of Farm of the Child for ten years, having been a volunteer for three, visiting yearly, and now being a board member. It is a well run organization that lives out it's mission in a beautiful way. It is a place of transformation, healing, and growth. It's an honor to be able to partner with the work and the community of the Farm, and I am happy to donate to it as well.
I have known this organization for 8 years and visited three times. It's a wonderful nonprofit that helps the most disadvantaged children in one of the poorest nations in our hemisphere. I trust them to be prudent and honest, providing great value for donors and beneficiaries alike. The Board, staff and missionaries work hard and in community to ensure a safe and joyful place for each child that enters for home-based care, or for the school or clinic. New programs in community outreach and family strengthening will expand their reach to the neediest in their community. I recommend Farm of the Child (Finca del Nino) to any donor.
I have known this organization for 10 years now and it's the nonprofit that I trust the most. From the Board, staff and missionaries, everyone is giving their all to ensure that this home is a safe and joyful place for each child that enters. They are striving to grow and become better everyday through community outreach and family strengthening. I would 100% recommend becoming a part of their donor community.
I was a medical volunteer at the Finca from 2005-2008. I came as an older, retired adult. I was a little concerned how well I would fit in, since I was not only older, but a Protestant. I found the Finca staff to be very warm and accepting and I soon felt part of the group. It honestly was a wonderful experience, certainly not without challenges, but one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
My daughter was a volunteer for the Finca del Nino and loved it. I visited twice and saw firsthand how the children had a loving environment and decisions were carefully made to help the children. I feel the money I donate is very well spent. Linda Stryker
My 3 years as a volunteer missionary at Farm of the Child changed my life. Not only did I make life-long friends with my fellow missionaries, but also met three of the greatest blessings in my life--my three oldest, adopted children. Farm of the Child changes lives--the children and families served, the missionaries and volunteers who serve, and all those who share in this mission through prayers and financial support.