Reflections from Dr. Pat Wolff, Meds & Food for Kids Founder

As we celebrate MFK treating 1 million children & mothers, I would like to acknowledge a group who made a huge difference along the way: the 46 expat fellows who worked with MFK for 1-3 years each from 2009 to 2020. Recent college graduates in North America and Europe shared what they learned about topics like food safety, agriculture, nursing, public health, and engineering. Except for agriculture and nursing, all of these areas of study were unavailable to the local Haitian people, even to those with higher education.

A Bright Future in Haiti

In March of 2020, at the direction of the President of Haiti, the fellows were suddenly asked to leave the country because of the pandemic. The Haitian employees stepped up immediately. They soon realized that they had enough information and skills through their work with fellows over the years to perform all needed tasks. The Haitians filled all of MFK’s Haiti jobs, very confidently and professionally.  MFK had always been working toward this goal but we did not imagine it would be accomplished so abruptly and so early.

Since the beginning, MFK has proudly promoted the achievements of Haitians. Today, I would like to also say how proud I am of the 46 expat fellows for their generosity, persistence and ability to choose hardship for the greater good of Haiti and Haitians.  I give thanks for all of you and am proud to know each of you.

Dr. Pat Wolff

Celebrating International Day of Peace

Today is International Day of Peace, and we invite you to reflect with the Meds & Food for Kids team: “What does peace in Haiti look like?”

“I recall traveling twice a year to the countryside of Haiti, and my hometown to visit family and friends. In the good days, my wife and I went to restaurants in Petion-Ville, Delmas, and Port-au-Prince to enjoy good food, listen to live music, and catch up with friends. I remember the “fritay” at 5 Coins Restaurant and the crispy chicken at Kokoye bar & grill. I cannot wait for Haiti to be peaceful again.“

– Remenson Tenor, MFK Chief Operations Officer

“During my 35 years in Haiti, I had numerous magical experiences.

One year, two young MFK volunteers spent 9 months training for an ocean swim race. They would practice very early at the beach of a small village before going to work at the factory, and sometimes I tagged along.

As I swam in the early dawn I often noticed the bioluminescence in the water. With every stroke and splash, there was a glittering light and I was also covered with “glitter” from the splashes.

The dark village gradually awoke, and the fishermen returned with their nets from a night of catching eels to sell. The village people thought us strange swimming to nowhere, but we were accepted. It was a beautiful, magical side of Haiti not regularly captured by the media.“

– Dr. Pat Wolff, MFK Founder

“Peace in Haiti is a Friday night, sitting on the front porch of Boukanye restaurant in Cap-Haitien. Drinking a rum sour while listing to Kompa, feeling the Caribbean breeze blowing off the bay, while watching the people and life happen all around me.

In these beautifully simple moments, there is nowhere else on earth I’d rather be.“

– Chris Greene, MFK Chief Executive Officer

“Since becoming involved with MFK nearly 20 years ago, I have had the privilege of visiting Haiti multiple times. I often think about the wonderful moments I’ve experienced during my visits.

I loved spending a Sunday afternoon walking a nearby beach, where families splashed around and spent the day together on Haiti’s glistening beautiful northern coast. It always reminded me that everyone wants the same things in life – time to be with their families and friends enjoying the world’s wonders, and each other.“

– Suzanne Langlois, MFK Board Secretary

We believe Haiti will see nationwide peace again,
and we are proud to make a difference in the lives of Haitian families.

A reflection from our donors

My wife and I have been blessed. Let’s face it, if you are living in the US, you are blessed with extreme wealth compared to Haitians.

We give for Love:
We’ve all held a baby or small child. We see their innocence. We see their potential. We see their dependence on us to help them develop. How can I say that I have love in my heart yet ignore a child who is going to die if I don’t help?

We give because of Logic:
We have closely examined how MFK uses their money, and know that our gifts are spent on saving children’s lives, not administrative waste. We give every month. We sometimes give during a fundraiser. We have also designated a portion of the inheritance we will leave behind to Meds & Food for Kids.

We give because it makes a real difference.

Randy & Dana Shanks ( Donors since 2015)

Linda Locke, President
Meds & Food for Kids Board of Directors

Dr. Pat was my children’s pediatrician long before I knew about her work in Haiti. She was a compassionate and talented physician who cared not only for my children but also for the whole family. She recruited me and others for MFK’s Board of Directors in those early years when the factory was still a dream.

Many years later when I again joined the Meds & Food for Kids Board, I was not surprised to learn that Dr. Pat was leading an NGO that not only healed children but also was creating jobs and empowering communities to build stronger futures for all. It is the same holistic approach of caring for entire families that Dr. Pat used in her medical practice that she brought to Meds & Food for Kids.

Today MFK is a resilient organization that continues to treat severely malnourished Haitian children and strengthen families in spite of gang violence, supply chain disruptions, and other challenges. The current upheaval has created humanitarian crises unseen before, including the collapse of the medical system with 1.6 million Haitians facing the emergency level for food insecurity.

Today, as President of Meds & Food for Kids’ Board of Directors, I am humbled to report that MFK is more than just surviving. We are expanding the work to save more lives even as the chaos and violence continue into another year.

Thanks to your strong and steady support, MFK will continue to save lives and give children a chance for a future.

With gratitude,

Linda Locke, President
Meds & Food for Kids Board of Directors