 |
| History of OneMeal.com |
In October 2004 Paul Giesbrecht and Kevin Ormonde traveled to the war
torn countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia to teach pastors and leaders
conferences. During that first visit they visited many sights throughout
those places.
While traveling in Sierra Leone they visited an amputee camp that was filled
with victims of war crimes. The stories they heard were hard to believe if it
wasn’t that they were looking into the eyes of those who suffered these
atrocities. As they traveled through the camp they heard story after story of
crimes to these innocent people. Many had arms cut off crudely with
machetes while being asked if they wanted “long sleeve, short sleeve or
sleeveless and then depending on the answer their limbs were savagely
hacked off. Many of the women were raped and that in front of their
husbands or family members. No one was spared; many still bear the
emotional scars from these times.
While moving about the camp Paul and Kevin couldn’t help but notice the
horrendous living conditions, most stayed in makeshift huts made out of
bamboo and mud with dirt floors. There was no running water or sewer;
many were sick with malaria and other diseases due to the living
conditions. The amputees banded together in this camp to look out for
each other as the government was non-responsive to their needs due to
the lack of funds. Some outside agencies did give medical help but the
needs were more than the resources. With unemployment in the country
running 80% - 90% the hopes of securing a job with one limb was very slim
so most had to resort to begging to get enough food so as not to starve to
death.
As they looked at the great need in the camp Paul and Kevin asked the
amputees what one thing would you ask for and their response brought
tears to their eyes. All they asked for was “one good meal a week”. Not
three meals a day not even one meal a day but just one good meal a week.
After their return back to California Paul and Kevin reported back to their
home church about the trip and in talking about the amputees and other
victims of the war crimes many wanted to know what they could do. Out of
this OneMeal.com was born.
Headed up by the late Sam Mills, Paul and Kevin the donations stared to
come in and their contacts in West Africa were sent the funds not only to
feed the amputees the meals but other various building projects as well as
schooling and medical care.
Today One Meal is helping build a 200 acre farm in rural Liberia. Several
families have returned to the area after the wars and the farm will allow
them to become self sufficient. Several crops have already been planted
including peanuts, cavasa (a local crop), and other food sources. The
foundations for several homes have already been dug and the buildings are
slowing rising. All the work is done by hand with the crudest of tools, no
tractors or power tools are available to do the work so it’s all done by
manually under the scorching African sun. The goal is to bring many
displaced families back and have their own please to live and grow and then
move onto the next project.
Since that October in 2004 Kevin Ormonde has returned each year to follow
up on the work and to ensure that the funds sent over are being used to
their full potential.
100% of all donations go to the cause; OneMeal.com has no salaries to pay
as all staff and board members are volunteers who donate their time. All
administration costs are paid by the volunteers to make sure that 100% of
the monies collected will be sent to the West African countries.
Won’t you please take some time to see what you could do to help these
less fortunate? Any amount large or small will make a difference.
Checks can be mailed to:
OneMeal.com
c/o Olive Drive Church
5500 Olive Drive
Bakersfield CA 93308
Please note OneMeal on the memo part of your check or click on the
amount you would like to donate for a Paypal invoice.
torn countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia to teach pastors and leaders
conferences. During that first visit they visited many sights throughout
those places.
While traveling in Sierra Leone they visited an amputee camp that was filled
with victims of war crimes. The stories they heard were hard to believe if it
wasn’t that they were looking into the eyes of those who suffered these
atrocities. As they traveled through the camp they heard story after story of
crimes to these innocent people. Many had arms cut off crudely with
machetes while being asked if they wanted “long sleeve, short sleeve or
sleeveless and then depending on the answer their limbs were savagely
hacked off. Many of the women were raped and that in front of their
husbands or family members. No one was spared; many still bear the
emotional scars from these times.
While moving about the camp Paul and Kevin couldn’t help but notice the
horrendous living conditions, most stayed in makeshift huts made out of
bamboo and mud with dirt floors. There was no running water or sewer;
many were sick with malaria and other diseases due to the living
conditions. The amputees banded together in this camp to look out for
each other as the government was non-responsive to their needs due to
the lack of funds. Some outside agencies did give medical help but the
needs were more than the resources. With unemployment in the country
running 80% - 90% the hopes of securing a job with one limb was very slim
so most had to resort to begging to get enough food so as not to starve to
death.
As they looked at the great need in the camp Paul and Kevin asked the
amputees what one thing would you ask for and their response brought
tears to their eyes. All they asked for was “one good meal a week”. Not
three meals a day not even one meal a day but just one good meal a week.
After their return back to California Paul and Kevin reported back to their
home church about the trip and in talking about the amputees and other
victims of the war crimes many wanted to know what they could do. Out of
this OneMeal.com was born.
Headed up by the late Sam Mills, Paul and Kevin the donations stared to
come in and their contacts in West Africa were sent the funds not only to
feed the amputees the meals but other various building projects as well as
schooling and medical care.
Today One Meal is helping build a 200 acre farm in rural Liberia. Several
families have returned to the area after the wars and the farm will allow
them to become self sufficient. Several crops have already been planted
including peanuts, cavasa (a local crop), and other food sources. The
foundations for several homes have already been dug and the buildings are
slowing rising. All the work is done by hand with the crudest of tools, no
tractors or power tools are available to do the work so it’s all done by
manually under the scorching African sun. The goal is to bring many
displaced families back and have their own please to live and grow and then
move onto the next project.
Since that October in 2004 Kevin Ormonde has returned each year to follow
up on the work and to ensure that the funds sent over are being used to
their full potential.
100% of all donations go to the cause; OneMeal.com has no salaries to pay
as all staff and board members are volunteers who donate their time. All
administration costs are paid by the volunteers to make sure that 100% of
the monies collected will be sent to the West African countries.
Won’t you please take some time to see what you could do to help these
less fortunate? Any amount large or small will make a difference.
Checks can be mailed to:
OneMeal.com
c/o Olive Drive Church
5500 Olive Drive
Bakersfield CA 93308
Please note OneMeal on the memo part of your check or click on the
amount you would like to donate for a Paypal invoice.
$25.00
$50.00
$75.00
$100.00
$500.00
$400.00
$300.00
$200.00
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |