Following the recent fellowship night at Bethel Baptist Church where I showed the DVD and spoke about our work, I have been asked to provide some further information for the magazine and web site.

Feed The Children has been in existence for over 25 years. It originated in USA, started by an evangelist, and spread to other countries. Feed The Children UK is now independent with a head office based in Reading, a regional office at Bristol and 2/3 regional managers.

We have about 9 staff in total and an army of volunteers based throughout the UK who do everything from collecting goods, packing in our warehouse, knitting jumpers and blankets, organising fundraising collections, etc. We work in many countries including Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Moldova (in Eastern Europe) and, most recently, Zimbabwe.

We also run Breakfast Clubs at several schools in the Bristol and Birmingham areas.

Many of the vulnerable children we work with do not know where their next meal is coming from, yet it costs only £5 to feed a child in Africa for one month. We currently feed thousands of children and the monies raised from fundraising will enable our vital work to continue and expand. We are currently facing calls for extra help from Zimbabwe in the face of the current cholera epidemic and now that it is easier to get aid into the country, we have already sent one container with another one planned in the near future.

We have various ongoing campaigns including:

• Pads, Pants and £1 - to enable teenage girls in Uganda to attend school even when menstruating.
• Tree ribbons - where for every £1 raised through their sale a sapling is planted in Uganda which will provide fruit in a sustainable way.
• Boreholes - located sites to provide safe, clean water for whole villages.
• Jiggers - to eradicate disease caused by sand flies burrowing into the feet of young children who often have no shoes to wear and live in homes without solid floors.
• Breakfast Clubs - providing this important meal for children in schools where at least 50% of pupils come from very needy backgrounds, 28% of children in the UK miss this important meal.

Download the Latest Needs List here

Anyone can get involved in our vital work.

Individuals, groups, schools, companies, churches, etc, can organise a fundraising event, collect goods, sell tree ribbons, request a speaker and help us to spread the message. Our current event is "Eat a Breakfast, Save a Life" and although the official date is 24 February, supporters can choose a date to suit themselves if they wish to help us by taking part. It can be as simple as making tea and toast for friends to full cooked breakfasts, whatever works for people and raises both the awareness of our vital work and the much needed funds also. A pack can be downloaded from our website or sent out by post if required, or organisers can just go ahead without one. We'd like to make thousands overall from this event because there is so much work we want to do and so many children that need our help. Our supporters really do make a difference to the lives of needy children. People often think that only big amounts count but that is not so; many people raising smaller amounts are the backbone of our fundraising and when these amounts are added together they make a huge difference.

In 2009 I really want to raise our profile, recruit supporters and also volunteers who can help with collections, etc. As the Regional Manager for Wales and the Borders I am available to give presentations or talks or meet with supporters. I can be contacted via email gedwards@feedthechildren.org.uk  or by telephone on 029 2085 0591.

Our website www.feedthechildren.org.uk  will give you an idea of the countries we work in and anyone who would like to see the DVD of our work can borrow a copy from me.

Gill Edwards