On Chicago’s Morning Answer, host Dan Proft continued AM560’s annual 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.
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.
More than halfway to the goal, the initiative has drawn support from both individual donors and a growing list of business benefactors across the Chicago area and beyond. The campaign focuses on providing food and access to clean water for children and families living in extreme poverty, particularly in regions affected by political instability, natural disasters, and chronic economic hardship.
Jacobs emphasized that Food For the Poor has been operating for more than four decades, working in 15 countries with a model that combines immediate relief with long-term development. While the current campaign centers on food and water, the organization’s broader mission includes housing construction, education, and agricultural assistance designed to help families achieve self-sufficiency rather than ongoing dependency.
During the interview, Jacobs described how Food For the Poor works through vetted local church and ministry partners, allowing aid to reach communities consistently and responsibly. He noted that these partnerships ensure accountability and provide ongoing support well beyond the initial delivery of resources.
Proft acknowledged that while macro-level conditions in countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti may appear unchanged to outside observers, the organization’s work often transforms individual families and neighborhoods in ways that are less visible from afar. Jacobs illustrated that point with firsthand accounts from the field, describing families who moved from daily hunger to stability through donor-funded housing, education, and nutrition programs.
The campaign also highlighted the role of business benefactors, whose contributions support dozens of children for an entire year while also receiving on-air recognition. Proft noted that many longtime AM560 advertisers were first introduced to the station through participation in the Food For the Poor program, creating what he described as a mutually beneficial partnership that supports both humanitarian work and local businesses.
With less than two weeks remaining before Christmas, both Proft and Jacobs urged listeners to consider participating at any level, emphasizing that even modest donations can have life-changing effects when matched and distributed through established networks on the ground.
As the holiday season approaches, the campaign continues to frame charitable giving as both an immediate response to hunger and a long-term investment in families whose futures depend on access to basic necessities.