Kenya, East Africa Emergency Food Distribution

On June 6, 2025, Rhonda’s community center buzzed with activity and anticipation. Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers arrived early, unpacking “food hampers” for local families. Each food hamper contained a carefully chosen mix of nutritious Kenyan staples – maize, beans, and green grams (mung beans) – basic ingredients that can make hearty meals. These simple foods are a lifeline: high in protein and calories, and familiar to local diets. We packed generous portions intended to help a family of four get through about a week’s worth of meals. The purpose of this outreach was clear: to support vulnerable families with essential food during a time when skyrocketing prices have put even ugali (corn meal) and beans out of reach for many. By mid-morning, families began to arrive.

Who Received the Food Hampers?
We prioritized the most vulnerable members of the Rhonda community for this distribution, identifying those in greatest need of immediate food support. Thanks to guidance from local community leaders, we focused on:

People living with disabilities.
Single mothers – women raising children on their own, often with no steady income.
Elderly caregivers – grandmothers or grandfathers caring for grandchildren, despite having little resources in their sunset years.
Families with young children – households with infants or toddlers who desperately need proper nutrition during their critical early years.
Households facing extreme poverty or job loss – including those where a primary breadwinner lost employment, or families living well below the poverty line.
All told, about 60 households fell into these categories and benefited from the food hampers. Springs of Hope Foundation’s mission has always been to uplift “the most vulnerable – the elderly, disabled, single mothers, and needy families” in our region and this day was a beautiful expression of that mission. Our local partners in Rhonda helped ensure we reached those truly in need – the people who often go unnoticed, like the bedridden grandmother relying on neighbors for food, or the young mother recently widowed with three little ones to feed.

Background: Rhonda’s Resilient Community in Need
Rhonda is a densely populated informal settlement on the outskirts of Nakuru. It’s one of the largest slum communities in the area, home to roughly 28,000 people squeezed into just over a square kilometer.
Families here face daunting challenges. The vast majority of adults struggle with unemployment, surviving on less than a dollar a day.
With limited job opportunities, many parents cannot reliably provide daily meals for their children. Basic services are scarce – in some nearby settlements there are no public schools or clinics at all, forcing residents to travel far for education and healthcare.Despite the hardships they face, the Rhonda residents greeted us with shy smiles, warm handshakes, and songs of welcome. We opened the event with prayers and thanks – grateful for the opportunity to serve and mindful of the donors halfway across the world (that’s you!) who made this day possible. One by one, 60 households received their food hampers. The distribution was orderly and personal. Our volunteers took time to speak with each recipient, offering words of encouragement along with the heavy food parcels. It was truly a warm, heartfelt atmosphere – neighbors helping neighbors. Children peered curiously from behind their mothers, and a few even broke into giggles when handed a packet of green grams (a treat they don’t often see at home). For many families, this was the first substantial food supply they’d had in weeks.The community’s gratitude was overwhelming and deeply moving. We wish you could have heard the heartfelt words and seen the joyful tears your generosity evoked. One mother of four told us that the rising cost of food had forced her to reduce her family to one meager meal a day. “Tonight, my children will eat full plates, and sleep without hunger pangs,” she said, holding her hamper close. An elderly man, Joseph, whispered a simple “God bless you” as volunteers placed the supplies onto his cart. He later confided that he had been surviving on just tea and bread for days. Now, he said, he could cook a proper meal and not worry for a little while. “I feel blessed and less worried about my next meal. This has truly given me hope,” he told us gratefully.Here are a few ways you can stay engaged and keep making a real-world difference:
Spread the Word: Share this story with friends and family. Let them know how a simple act of giving can change lives.
Volunteer or Visit: If you ever find yourself in Nakuru, come visit Kijiji Mission! We’d love to have you involved on the ground.
Donate or Sponsor: Consider making another donation or even sponsoring a program or a student. Every bit of support helps us reach another household in need. (Even a few dollars can fill a food hamper with staples.)
Stay Informed: Follow our updates on social media or sign up for our monthly newsletter for more stories of impact.Together, we can transform hardship into hope. This recent food hamper distribution in Rhonda is proof of what we can achieve together. You helped restore dignity and hope to people who were struggling, and we cannot thank you enough. As we look ahead, we’re already planning our next outreach – inspired by the resilience of the Rhonda community and by your compassion that makes this work possible. From all of us at Springs of Hope Foundation – Kijiji Mission, thank you once again. Your generosity put food on tables and smiles on faces. Let’s continue to bring hope to those who need it most. Until our next update, we send you our deepest gratitude and blessings.
Warmest regards,
Jennifer Hughes-Bystrom
Founder/CEO
Springs of Hope Foundation

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We recently met Rosemary and her mother, Joyce, at one of our food hamper distributions. These ladies faced daily challenges that most of us can hardly imagine. Please take a moment to read their story to understand why we had to step up immediately and offer whatever assistance we could. 

When the Springs of Hope Foundation learned about their situation, we knew we had to act fast. Thanks to the generosity of a long-time supporter and the dedication of our local volunteer team, we were able to deliver a brand-new wheelchair to Rosemary just in time for Mother’s Day.

Now, Rosemary moves more freely, and her mother can finally take a breath, knowing her daughter has the support she needs through our washable, reusable sanitary napkin program, our reusable adult diaper program, and our food hamper distribution program.

This Mother's Day, we celebrate not only the strength of mothers like Rosemary’s mom, Joyce, but the power of community to make a real difference—one wheelchair at a time.

PLEASE DONATE

Rosemary was born in 1991, a bright-eyed baby who instantly became the center of her mother Joyce’s world. Like any parent, Joyce dreamed of a future filled with possibilities for her daughter. But those dreams were shattered just four months later when Rosemary fell gravely ill with meningitis.
 
For four agonising days, Joyce sought help from doctors, only to be met with uncertainty and misdiagnosis. By the time Rosemary was correctly diagnosed, irreversible damage had already been done. The illness left her paralysed, unable to walk, talk, or care for herself.
 
What followed was a journey Joyce never imagined. As the reality of Rosemary’s condition became clear, Joyce was met not with support but with blame. Her husband and his family turned against her, driven by superstition and fear. Branded the cause of her daughter’s disability, Joyce was abandoned. Left with no choice, she walked away from that life, determined to raise Rosemary alone.
 
The years that followed were marked by relentless hardship. Now 30 years old, Rosemary remains completely dependent on her mother. She cannot speak or walk, yet she is fully aware of her surroundings, responding with subtle but unmistakable expressions. Joyce has devoted her entire life to her daughter’s care, becoming her sole caregiver, advocate, and source of comfort.
 
Despite her devotion, Joyce lives in poverty. The only steady income they receive is a monthly government stipend of just $15—barely enough to cover essentials like diapers and food. To make ends meet, Joyce takes on odd jobs—washing clothes, running errands—always staying close enough to care for Rosemary. Every day is a struggle to stretch limited resources while ensuring her daughter’s needs are met.
 
Over the years, Rosemary has received three donated wheelchairs, each a symbol of independence. But her current chair is over seven years old, too small for her adult body, and falling apart. Its worn-out tires and outdated structure make it uncomfortable, but it remains her only means of mobility.
 
Joyce once held out hope that Rosemary could thrive in a special school. She enrolled her at Hill Special School, hoping it would offer both education and companionship. But the experience ended in heartbreak. At the end of the term, Rosemary returned home malnourished and swollen—clear signs of neglect. Devastated, Joyce withdrew her daughter, resolving never to risk her well-being again. From that moment on, she chose to care for Rosemary at home, driven by both love and necessity.
 
Every day, Joyce rises to the same challenges with courage and grace. Her love for Rosemary is unwavering, and her spirit remains strong even in the face of exhaustion and despair. Though Rosemary cannot speak, her presence says everything—her reactions, her quiet resilience, her ability to connect in the smallest ways. She is Joyce’s reason to keep going.
 
This is not just a story of hardship—it’s a story of love without limits, of a mother’s determination, and of a daughter’s quiet strength.
 THIS MOTHERS DAY PLEASE DONATE

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