When Francisca came to the I.N. Network Child Sponsorship Program, her hair was coming out in dry, lifeless tufts. Her belly was swollen and the look in her eyes was sad and vacant. Francisca wasn't suffering from a rare disease. She was suffering from chronic malnutrition. She had been hungry so long that she was in the third phase of starvation.

The global food crisis has reached epic proportions. It is a sad fact that children are especially vulnerable to this food crisis. Malnutrition affects one in three children in the Majority World, resulting in stunted growth, thinning or loss of hair, severe illness, and even death. We must do something to help these children and their families, especially at Christmas.

As our special Christmas project for 2009, we have decided to focus on providing Baskets of Hope for children and families in the I.N. Network Child Sponsorship Program. Before the most recent economic downturn, many of these families already spent up to 75% of their income on food for their families. Food costs in these countries have doubled and even tripled. Families that were already struggling are now devastated. Parents who were making ends meet before are now unable to feed their children.

With your help, we want to respond to this crisis by providing each family with a Basket of Hope, which is a food hamper full of nutritious food like corn, rice, biscuits, canned meat, flour, and oil, enough to feed a family for up to two weeks. Each food basket costs just $50. Imagine the joy and relief of a family when they receive a basket of these precious food items!

The global food crisis is complicated. It involves market forces and global trends that are beyond our control. But providing a basket of food staples for a child and his or her family is somethign we can do.

The story of Francisca has a happy ending. After several months of nutritious meals through the I.N. Network Child Sponsorship Program, her hair filled in to her normal hairline. She is now stronger and is no longer as susceptible to diseases that would wreak havoc on a malnourished body. A Basket of Hope for her family this Christmas will help provide boost of nutrition Francisa and to her parents and siblings during the holiday break from school. It will also provide an influx of hope in a food crisis that leaves families like Francisca's feeling forgotten by the rest of the world.

Help Children Like Francisca

As you prepare your hearts for the celebration of our Savior's birth, please consider how you can help feed a family in crisis. Each $50 food basket is a gift from the heart of immeasurable value to the family that receives it. Click here to give Baskets of Hope to children and families. We are so grateful for your partnership with I.N. Network USA as we work together to glorify God and win men, women, and children to Jesus Christ.