To Give in RI: “I know them. I see them. I will not abandon them.” RI-based Edesia calls on YOU

As the federal government restructures its many departments and divisions, temporary holds on programs and funding have caused an inconvenience for some – impending disaster for others.

RINewsToday will periodically feature nonprofits, and causes, that call out to us to bring to you for your charitable giving. A small gift. A mid-sized gift. A whole-family or whole-company gift. A large gift. It all matters. Now more than ever “the village” is a necessary support for causes we care the most about – responsible ones – life-saving ones. We proudly feature our first such profile – that of EDESIA.

The nonprofit, Edesia (meaning “to eat”), quietly headquartered in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, has been feeding malnourished and starving children around the world for 15 years. They have a model that is simple. One that works. One that has been smoothly moving along as the needs of the world’s children have exploded on so many continents, including the United States.

They developed a product called Plumpy Nut, a life-saving, ready to use, therapeutic food, in small packages that children enjoy while it works its nutritional magic inside their malnourished bodies. The solution of Plumpy Nut seems too simple – but it’s not. It takes supply sourcing, manufacturing, production, packaging, and shipping – and delivery channels. It is as intricate at times as it is simple at others.

When USAID funds were stopped, Edesia’s funds from this and other federal sources also stopped. The lines of production, usually running 24/7, went silent for days. Navyn reached out to tell her story to the federal government – she was told her funding would be reinstated. And it will be, slowly, because it takes even more time to turn the ship back around again.

Recently, they started production again – after laying off 10% of their staff. They had to. It was a very difficult decision.

Now, they have launched a campaign – Children Can’t Wait. They have taken the resilience that they provide all over the world, and put it into action. Reaching out to the village – because we all know it takes a village with a mission as large as this one. They are reaching out to YOU – to all of us. Your support for the children – now – today – will get them through.

Soon, the production lines will be fully staffed, and rolling again. RINewsToday features Edesia as the first non-profit to know you can responsibly support – with a need that is overwhelming. Edesia will have a lot of catch-up to do.

As you read this, take a moment to send your gift – of whatever amount. It will be generously matched. Every packet of life-saving food says on it: “From the American people”. Let’s make that so!

Learn more about Edesia here:

Click link to watch:

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/malnutrition-food-product-sees-funding-affected-by-usaid-cuts

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A letter from Navyn, CEO of Edesia:

Dear Friend,

Our mission is simple. We exist to make food that saves lives; more than 26 million lives in the last 15 years, but in a heartbeat, the U.S. foreign aid freeze put a stop to much of that work. Production lines went completely silent for the first time ever.

We are done waiting… to get paid by the U.S. government… to see what food aid funding might still be there… for others to figure out what to do. Children are going to die. They are the victims of the disruption. They are NOT a number. I know them. I see them. I will not abandon them.

We are taking action. We are identifying urgent needs caused by this disruption. We are finding like-minded partners. Four of our long-time humanitarian aid partners in Africa shared that, right now, 297,000 children are on the brink of starvation because of the aid funding disruption.

So where do we start? With YOU. With one life, one box, one pallet, one hour at a time.

$50 = 1 Box = 1 child saved

$4,500 = 1 Pallet = 90 children saved

$20,750 = 1 Hour of Production = 415 children saved

What is Malnutrition?

Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy or nutrients.

The term malnutrition covers two groups of conditions. The one that Edesia focuses on is “undernutrition” – which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micro-nutrient deficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals).

Malnutrition affects people all over the world with close to three million children under the age of five dying from severe malnutrition every year. 

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Please make a gift today to help Edesia save lives. Together, they can make an incredible difference and show 297,000 children that they have not abandoned them. Every dollar you give to fuel Edesia’s production lines will be matched – up to $3.5 million – turning generosity into survival. 

Learn more about our Children Can’t Wait campaign here.

Yours in action, Navyn

P.S. – Who do you know that is ready to take action and help us save lives? PLEASE share this article with your family, friends, and co-workers by clicking the share links below. We need to broaden our community of care and commitment. To Give in RI thanks you.

Let’s Make Malnutrition History.

Every dollar will be doubled thanks to a pivotal gift

Founded in 2010, Edesia is a non-profit social enterprise, comprised of 150 dedicated team members who work around the clock to produce specialized foods that target malnutrition.