What is Project Based Food Assistance (PBFA)?

Through FMSC’s PBFA initiatives, distribution partners, churches and local leaders within a specific region come together to help their community. For a period of time, individuals and communities receive a consistent supply of FMSC food to empower them to rise out of poverty and become self-reliant.

Unlike our usual distribution model, PBFA initiatives begin with an end in sight — the program usually lasts three to five years. This is targeted food assistance specifically designed to bridge the gap from short-term aid to self-sufficiency.

FMSC believes hope starts with food. As a Christian nonprofit, we are dedicated to seeing every child whole in body and spirit. We work with food distribution partners that stay with communities for the long haul, empowering them to move from relief to development.

“We know that when children grow up healthy it is the future of our countries.” – Mark Crea, FMSC CEO

How it works

Local partners welcome the FMSC team into a community. Once connected, we stop taking initiative and just listen. We follow the lead of those who know best – the people who actually live in that community.

Local residents form a committee – pastors, teachers, farmers. All bringing different strengths and perspectives. However, they all have one goal in common – they want to see their community rise out of poverty.

The committee identifies what they need – anything from agriculture to hygiene to job training opportunities. FMSC provides financial support and uses a steady supply of MannaPack® meals as a platform to build stability in the community. The end goal? Self-sufficiency.

New PBFA now launched in the Philippines

This fall, we are excited to announce that we have launched a brand new PBFA in a small, young community in the Philippines – about four hours north of Manila. In this community, we have learned that parents spend most – if not all – of their funds on food. For the next three to five years, these families will not have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Rather, they can focus on rising out of poverty.

During our visit for the launch, we saw the leadership planning committee put together for this project focus on seasonal mapping where they put different events, weather patterns, harvest periods, and more on a calendar to look for strategic opportunities and areas of need. This will enable them to better coordinate resources and initiatives throughout the year. By visualizing these patterns, they can identify key moments for community engagement, optimize agricultural practices, and address seasonal challenges proactively.

This strategic approach not only enhances collaboration among local leaders, but also empowers residents to participate more actively in community planning, ultimately fostering a more resilient and responsive environment. This community-led project will work alongside a consistent source of FMSC food to boost them to become self-reliant over the next three to five years.

Food is an entry point to drive sustainable change. Your gifts provide FMSC meals – and sustainable change – every day.