This letter is to ask for your assistance through your newspaper to help the poor in our world. I remember two years ago how kind you were about printing a letter to help a Brooklyn Soup Kitchen and was hopeful that especially at this Holy Week of the year, when many people are thinking about giving to charity, you could help.

Last Sunday my brother, a priest for over 32 years, was assigned to a Queens parish to speak about the charity he now works for named "Food for the Poor." In listening to his entire homily (which I seldom do because he is my brother), I was extremely touched by the work that these interdenominational missionaries do to help the poorest of the poor in the Caribbean and Latin America. With the help of all of us, they provide food, clothing, medical and educational supplies, building materials and self-help tools to those in greatest need. By buying goods in bulk, Food for the Poor supplies needs at the lowest possible cost. Since inception in 1982, its ratio of administrative expenses to market value of goods shipped is only 11.4 percent. Food for the Poor is both efficient and cost-effective. Please try to make a personal donation or get together with an organization you belong to. It is hard to believe but a $10 donation (the cost of one Friday night pizza pie), would buy 50 (yes fifty) pounds of beans and rice, providing a meal of complete protein for 1,300 children. If you feel that you could do more without causing hardship to your own family possibly $25 which will buy enough food to keep a poor family of six alive for nearly one year.

During the talk, I made a personal reflection and realized how much God had blessed me. Even though it is not always easy financially when you try to raise a couple of children on Long Island, I had to admit that I could probably help the less fortunate much more than I do now. I am hopeful and praying that many people reading this letter now will feel the same way. I wish that a large donation of $1,000 or $1,500 could be sent from our community because I knew that I couldn't possibly do it alone. Your contribution is tax-deductible.

If you have any questions you can access its website at www.foodforthepoor.com or telephone the Florida office at (954) 427-2222.

Checks can be made payable to Food for the Poor and you may mail it directly to my brother Fr. Nahman, 92 Elk Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10804 or to me at 92 Stewart Street, Floral Park, NY 11001. Our number is listed, feel free to call me if you need anything clarified.

On behalf of the hungry children, I thank you in advance for any assistance you can give.