COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Sept. 17, 2024) – As Food For The Poor (FFTP) celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month, it is proud to spotlight the story of Astre, a woman whose life has been profoundly shaped by the charity’s child sponsorship program, known as Angels Of Hope.
Astre’s journey is one of resilience and triumph.
Scarred by hot milk at the age of 2 and orphaned at 4, she grew up in a home supported by FFTP in Honduras. There, her God-given talent for art was nurtured and celebrated.
Though she cannot recall the exact details of her drawing as a 14-year-old participant in an FFTP art contest, she vividly remembers the impact it had on her.
“The drawing contest was very motivating for me,” Astre said. “I was able to discover my talent and what I was capable of doing, and I started to grow in drawing and later in painting.”
Now 28, Astre is a wife and mother of two. She continues to pursue her passion for art, refining the craft that first captured her heart as a child.
Her vibrant artwork has found its way into various platforms, including being featured on coffee bags produced by CEPUDO, FFTP’s partner in Honduras. Additionally, she designed the cover art for Jamaican recording artist Glacia Robinson’s latest album, “Hands of Mercy,” which was dedicated to FFTP.
“Astre’s journey is a remarkable example of resilience and the transformative power of nurturing talent and hope,” FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine said. “National Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to honor the rich cultural tapestry and the indomitable spirit of Hispanic communities, and we are proud to share stories like Astre’s that reflect that spirit.”
Astre fondly recalls her time in the Angels Of Hope program, where she felt the love and support that shaped her into who she is today.
“For me, it was happiness,” she said. “It was something so beautiful that even when we leave the home, we miss it. It really helped me a lot, and I saw that they (FFTP) were very supportive to the home.”
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
As FFTP continues its mission to empower communities in Latin America and the Caribbean, stories like Astre’s serve as powerful reminders of the lasting impact of nurturing hope and talent in those most in need.
The Angels Of Hope child sponsorship program supports safe havens where boys and girls can grow and develop mentally and physically.
Established in 2003, this program aims to improve the lives of vulnerable children by providing essential items to the group homes so the children can heal, grow, and thrive in a loving environment where their basic needs, including food, education, and health care, are met.
In 2023, caring donors sponsored 5,545 vulnerable children in 130 children’s homes in Haiti, Jamaica, Guyana, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The program soon will expand to Colombia, Peru, and Mexico.
Learn more about how to sponsor a child at foodforthepoor.org/angelsofhope.
Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry children and families living in poverty primarily in 15 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, water, medicine, educational materials, homes, support for vulnerable children, care for the aged, skills training, and micro-enterprise development assistance. For more information, please visit foodforthepoor.org.
