Food Security Taiwan Project #32708

Ending Hunger | A Community Giving Network

by The Mustard Seed Mission

Project Report | Mar 24, 2025
Ending Hunger, Spreading Hope for Taiwan

By Ariel Wu | International Social Media Manager

The Quiet Struggles of Vulnerable Families

Imagine having to choose between buying food for your children or paying rent. For many low-income families in Taiwan, this isn’t just a possibility but their everyday reality. Inflation has driven up the cost of living across the board, leaving vulnerable families in a precarious position. In 2024, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.18%, it’s the third consecutive year of inflation exceeding the government’s 2% warning threshold, and for low-income families, the burden was even greater, with living costs increasing by 2.32%.

These families are not just battling financial hardship but also the emotional toll of uncertainty. Parents worry if they can provide the next meal, while children feel the weight of instability in their young lives.

A Solution That Restores Hope and Dignity

The Mustard Seed Mission (MSM)’s Ending Hunger | A Community Giving Network program, with the LoveLife Centre being the heart of it, is bringing relief to families facing these challenges. In 2024 alone, the program delivered over 15,000 care packages containing vital items like food, hygiene supplies, and cleaning products to nearly 7,000 families across Taiwan.

What makes the program stand out is its innovative approach to care. Families are no longer limited to standardized packages. Instead, through an online point-based platform, they select the items they need most each month, ensuring resources meet their specific needs.

For example, Ms. Chiu, a single mother from Kaohsiung, uses the platform to secure essential groceries and household items for her two young children. Facing employment barriers due to a disability, she selects nutritional drinks and other necessities to support her family’s well-being. This approach not only meets and acknowledges families’ unique needs practically but also restores dignity by giving them the choice.

Meeting the Growing Need

The demand for essentials is increasing, and the need is urgent. To continue supporting families like Ms. Chiu’s, here are some of the key items we urgently need to replenish:

1,900 bottles of shampoo
1,400 packs of laundry detergent refills
4,100 cans of meat floss
4,150 packs of instant noodles
3,850 packs of juice boxes
4,100 packs of shelf-stable soy milk
2,450 pre-cooked meal packs

These items represent more than just supplies—they provide families with the stability they need to rebuild and thrive.

You Can Make a Difference

Every contribution helps us source and deliver these necessities to families like Ms. Chiu’s across Taiwan. You’re contributing more than just psychical items—you’re restoring hope and dignity to those who need it most.

Together, we can ensure no family is left behind in this challenging economy. Join us in making a difference and giving families the resources they need to thrive.

Join us in spreading warmth and care. Together, we can ensure no family is left behind.

The facial features of the family in the image have been modified to protect their identity and privacy.

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Nov 21, 2024
Love in Action: Care for Families This Season

By Ariel Wu | International Social Media Manager

“Yay! I've always wanted to try this!” Juan's eyes lit up with excitement when she saw the holiday gift box for the first time.

Juan was born with developmental delays, requiring frequent hospital visits for therapy. Her mother, unable to work consistently due to these demands, had to rely on loans to support the family. To make ends meet, she took on two jobs—working at a breakfast shop in the morning and a lunchbox store in the afternoon, often working late into the night. Each evening, as she rode home, Juan would fall asleep on her back, both exhausted from their long days.

A year ago, through a referral from the early intervention program, The Mustard Seed Mission (MSM) began supporting Juan's family. During our first home visit, her mother broke down in tears, sharing the weight of her financial struggles and the loneliness she felt navigating life alone. MSM quickly stepped in, offering them regular finical support through the child sponsorship program.

After the Hualien earthquake earlier this year, both of her mother's jobs fell through, plunging the family into deeper hardship. But we responded immediately, providing them with emergency relief funds and care packages, helping them through their toughest time.

Right before the Mid-Autumn Festival this year, MSM LoveLife Center paid the family a special visit with our holiday care package. Along with the essentials, the package included a handwritten card and a festive gift box, bringing a rare moment of celebration into their home.

“This is the first time we've ever received a Mid-Autumn Festival gift box,” Juan's mother said with a smile. “In the past, we would watch others enjoy these treats, but we could never afford them ourselves… Thank you for making us feel less alone.”

Now, with two new part-time jobs, Juan's mother is starting to regain her footing. Even though the challenges of raising a child and repaying debt remain, the support from LoveLife Center and generous donors across Taiwan has given her and her children the strength to keep moving forward.

As we approach the Christmas season, many families like Juan's continue to face similar struggles. This holiday, Our LoveLife Center will be delivering Christmas care packages — with blessing cards, gift boxes, and care packages — to help these families celebrate with dignity and catch their breath.

For these families, it's not just about the material support, it's about the warmth and care they feel from a community that stands by them. Your support can bring joy, hope, and the belief that brighter days are ahead.

Join us in spreading love this Christmas season by supporting families like Juan's. This winter, let's bring warmth and hope to those in need together.

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Sep 9, 2024
Lighting Lives With Hope, Hand in Hand Under The Moon

By Denny Chou | Supervisor, International Mktg Resource Centre

"Mom, don’t cry, I’ll protect you."

Lily never expected those words to come from her little boy, but in that moment, they became her anchor. She had been holding back her tears, trying to stay strong. But hearing those words, she realized she wasn’t fighting this battle alone.

Nine years ago, when Lily’s son Hugh was diagnosed with severe hearing loss shortly after birth, her world fell apart. Her partner showed no interest in their family’s struggles and carried heavy debts that added to Lily’s stress. Eventually, she had to make the painful decision to leave, taking Hugh and his older brother with her. Alone, and without family support, she fought to survive.

Lily worked tirelessly, staying up through the night to do whatever small jobs she could find, but it never seemed enough. Just when it felt like there was no way out, The Mustard Seed Mission (MSM) appeared in her life. The child sponsorship program provided her family with essential financial support and care packages, and the regular visits from social workers gave Lily something she had been missing for so long: hope.

Hugh, now 9, has grown into a bright and cheerful boy. Recently, as the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, a special time for families in Taiwan, MSM’s LoveLife Center brought something extra for them—a “Mid-Autumn Blessing Box.” When the box arrived, Hugh’s face lit up with pure excitement. “I’ve been waiting for this treat for so long!” he squealed as they unwrapped it together.

The social worker, who had been with them through the toughest times, took their hands and said a prayer of blessing for the family. It was a quiet moment, but Lily’s heart was full. “Thank you,” she whispered, tears welling up. “Thank you for walking with us all these years.”

Today, Lily has found a stable job, and while the journey hasn’t been easy, she knows she’s not walking it alone. The support from LoveLife Center and generous donors across Taiwan has given her and her children the strength to rebuild their lives.

As we approach the Mid-Autumn Festival, many families like Lily’s still face daily struggles. That’s why LoveLife Center’s “Mid-Autumn Action of Love” is so important. With blessing cards, gift boxes, and care packages, we’re making sure these families can celebrate, knowing they are surrounded by a community that cares.

For families like Lily’s, it’s not just about the gifts—it’s about love, hope, and the belief that brighter days are ahead.

Join us in making a difference for families like Lily's! Your support helps provide essential care, hope, and joy, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Together, we can light up their path toward a brighter future.

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