On Chicago’s Morning Answer, host Dan Proft continued AM560’s annual Thanksgiving partnership with Food for the Poor, spotlighting the staggering reality facing families across Latin America and the Caribbean and urging listeners to join the relief effort. Daniel Patino, a radio manager and fundraiser for the organization, joined Proft to describe the conditions on the ground and the urgency of this year’s campaign.
Proft opened with an audio clip of a mother describing how her children scour garbage dumps for food—scenes that Food for the Poor encounters daily in the 15 countries where it operates. As Proft noted, rising food insecurity, natural disasters, and political instability have deepened suffering in several regions. Jamaica, devastated by a recent hurricane, is among this year’s top emergency priorities.
Patino confirmed that the situation in Jamaica is far worse than many Americans realize. “We were there just last week,” he said. “Schools are closed, basic routines are disrupted, and it may take months or even a year just to return to normal.” Access to clean water is an equally urgent issue. In many rural communities, families drink from the same contaminated sources used by livestock, leading to chronic illness, missed school days, and lost income.
Food for the Poor’s model, Patino explained, allows the organization to respond quickly and efficiently. With its own warehouses, shipping capabilities, and long-standing partnerships with churches and community leaders, the charity bypasses government bureaucracy and ensures that aid reaches families directly. More than 90 cents of every dollar donated goes to program services—the reason the group maintains top ratings from Charity Navigator.
Proft recounted the heartbreaking “mud cookie” stories from Haiti—families mixing dirt, salt, and oil to create a makeshift meal—underscoring the desperation many face. Patino added that parents are often forced to choose between dehydration and illness, since clean water is scarce and contaminated rivers require hours-long walks just to fill a jug. “A gallon of water weighs eight pounds,” he said. “Even young children carry whatever containers they have because the entire family must help.”
Operating in some of the world’s most dangerous places, including gang-controlled areas of Haiti, presents ongoing risks. But Patino emphasized that Food for the Poor’s decades of relationship-building allow staff and volunteers to navigate these areas safely and consistently. “People know who we are,” he said. “They know we’re there to help.”
As Thanksgiving arrives, Patino urged listeners not simply to feel sympathy but to act. A one-time donation of $150 provides food and clean water for two children for an entire year. Larger gifts yield even greater impact: $300 supports four children, and $1,000 rescues 20. Businesses can also contribute through AM560’s business benefactor program—donating $2,500 to receive 40 on-air commercials while also feeding more than 30 children.
Proft reminded listeners that Food for the Poor has delivered over $15 billion in aid during its 43 years of service. “Don’t just hear that sound clip and feel bad,” Patino said in closing. “A child doesn’t have a choice today. But we do.”
Donations of any amount can be made by calling 844-862-4673 or by visiting 560theanswer.com/foodforthepoor. Businesses interested in the benefactor program may contact AM560 General Manager John Gallagher at 847-472-8950.
As Chicago prepares for holiday meals surrounded by abundance, Proft and Patino urged listeners to remember families for whom a single egg or a handful of rice must feed multiple children—and to help deliver the next meal that so many parents desperately pray will come.