The Cuenca Food Program

The Cuenca Food Program is a lifeline for those struggling with food insecurity in Cuenca. This program distributes food kits (containing dry goods, fresh produce, eggs, and hygiene products) to approximately 1,000 people, including the beneficiaries of three partner foundations. It’s a three-month program, and includes evaluating and monitoring the vulnerabilities of each family by a social worker before entering the program. The Cuenca Food Program embodies the foundation’s commitment to offering not only food, but a pathway to stability and hope for the future. 

With more than a thousand people relying on our food kits each month, and with hundreds more on our waiting list, we continually face increased demand.

33% of Ecuadorians struggle to put food on the table.

Like Rosa, a grandmother who works as a recicladora (person in charge of collecting garbage to classify it and resell what can be used). She often works 12-plus hours a day. When her two adult children died of COVID, she became the sole provider for her seven grandchildren which increased her struggle.

At 27%, Ecuador has the second-highest rate of chronic child malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean.