Chicken Coop Caribbean pledges $6m to poultry farmers of faith

NEW YORK:

New York-based evangelism organisation, GRACE (Give Righteousness A Chance to Evangelise) Conduct through its backyard poultry farming ministry, Chicken Coop Caribbean is committing J$6 million in grants over two years to Caribbean nationals in need.

The organisation has already disbursed approximately US$750,000, to faith farmers in St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth, and Hanover. It also has similar projects in Grenada and looks to target farmers in Guyana and Trinidad later this year.

Janice Julian, programme administrator said, “We may never be able to eradicate poverty in the Caribbean, but we can all aspire to make an attempt through tangible support opportunities.

Led by the biblical principle of being our brother’s keeper, GRACE Conduct Ministries is committed to doing its part in making a difference through its Christian-based initiative – Chicken Coop Caribbean.”

She said the initiative, a fully funded small farmer poultry assistance programme looks at empowering struggling Christian families by “giving them a start” transforming them into entrepreneurs and setting them on a path to self-sufficiency.

Julian reiterated that poultry farming by tradition is quite popular in the Caribbean, especially in the rural areas, and it is a favourite go-to for many low-income families looking to raise their immediate standard of living. Although popular, aspiring entrepreneurs face difficulties raising the financial and other well-needed resources to get their businesses up and running.

She said, “Because these farmers operate on a smaller scale, often informal, they are not able to qualify for government assistance, but with a grant from GRACE Conduct, their dreams can be realised.”

Through the local church, farmers are identified by their pastors, and then encouraged to apply. During the two-week application process, farmers are assessed for one-time financial assistance depending on their area of need. Having met all the prerequisites, funds are disbursed to either through the church or a local farm store to purchase 50 chicks, 10 bags of feed, vitamins, bulbs, feeding trays and water pans.

GREAT START

Reverend Owen Johnson, pastor of Maidstone Restored Church of God reports that his congregants are grateful for the outreach and are happy that they benefitted from the project. Several recipients are on numerous harvesting cycles. Pastor Derick Smith of Greater Grace Temple in St Catherine said, “I am very excited also had high praises to God, and prayers for GRACE Conduct and Lighthouse Baptist Church. “Our recipients are doing well. They first received 50 chicks and have been increasing ever since. One sister is currently raising 100 chickens of which she slaughtered 61 today,” he shared.

Pastor of Longwood Gospel Temple, Rev. Uriel Boothe, was thankful to God that his parishioners were being given a start to assist themselves, their families, and the wider community. He said, “We give God thanks for the persons and organisation that have been so thoughtful to us for giving us this great start. I pray that God will continue to bless the giver.”

Members of Gregory Park Baptist, Trinity Baptist and Fairfield Moravian Circuit of Churches, as well as Fairfield Bible College, are also grant recipients.

The programme executive shared further that small grants are available to not-for-profit Christian ministries serving the poor in marginalised communities. Chicken Coop Caribbean is administered by GRACE Conduct under the advisory of Lighthouse Baptist Church, Queens, New York. The initiative is funded by GRACE Conduct, Lighthouse Baptist Church, corporate partners Caribbean Food Delights and Royal Caribbean Bakery, as well as private individual support. For inquires, churches may contact Chicken Coop Caribbean at chickencoopministry@gmail.com.