OUR MISSION
To collaborate with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) which serve the poor, needy and the handicapped so as to help them help others even more.

OUR GOALS

• To assist NGOs to develop by offering appropriate training.
• To network all NGOs which are members of FEEL
• To assist NGOs in identifying agencies which can provide them with funding to carry out their various projects
• To act as a facilitator to our NGOs which have difficulty in providing the items that they need e.g. food, clothes, pharmaceuticals
• To assist our country by providing items which are not necessarily those required by our NGOs

OUR VISION
To assist the disadvantaged of our country to improve their economic, physical and social situations, so that they can develop themselves, become independent and chart their own courses. Eventually, they will be able to have better housing, regular meals, appropriate education and an enhanced quality of life. They will consequently value their lives and that of others, and lead happy and productive lives!

OUR STRUCTURE
FEEL is run by a Board of Directors comprising ten members. Under the Board come the Chief Executive Officer, Administrative Director and six other permanent members of staff. The operations of FEEL are divided into the following Committees comprising our volunteers:

• NGOs
• Wheelchair
• Finance
• Medical
• Fund-raising

FEEL is assisted by charitable organizations in the USA, mainly Cross International, who send containers of merchandise which are needed for the poor and disadvantaged.

OUR MEMBERS
Our members, both religious and non-religious organizations, number 124 with 20 or so more semi-affiliates. They are divided geographically into nine (9) regions: West, Port of Spain, Port of Spain East, North East, East, Central, San Fernando, South & Tobago, each region being headed by a Regional Coordinator.

To ensure that the resources are being distributed in the most effective manner through our member NGOs they are required to consistently meet the following criteria:

Have appropriate goals and a track record of integrity.
Demonstrate a pro-active approach that is community oriented.

In addition they are required to:
Supply verification of organizational structure, demonstrate effective management and maintain regular updating of personnel.

OUR PARTNERSHIP
Once NGOs have been accepted and registered, Regional Coordinators work with them in their regions. They coordinate the work of their region and make recommendations to Head Office concerning needs and operations.

Each of the NGOs has its own special mission. Many ask for food and clothes on a regular basis for the poor of their communities; while others focus on community development including counselling, helping people with special disabilities, promoting education and training, youth development programmes, maintaining homes for the abandoned and abused, rehabilitation of drug addicts, assisting victims of domestic violence.

EXTENDING OUR HAND
While FEEL's mission remains to work with and through the NGOs to provide aid to the people of Trinidad & Tobago we recognize that needs exist outside this.

With this in mind FEEL has extended its resources to non-member groups, government organizations and even individuals in providing:

• o Food and Clothing
• Disaster relief items (beds, household items, etc.)
• Medical equipment and supplies to hospitals and clinics
• School furniture, equipment, books and stationery

OUR PROJECTS
The generous donations of individuals and corporations that allow us to buy and distribute food through the NGOs for the poor in their communities have enabled us to concentrate on our projects for the development of NGOs and their communities.

The Tyre Garden:

Where individuals can grow food crops and decorative plants in a limited area devoid of soil.

Habitat for Humanity:

A project which provides simple, dignified houses for the poor. Since the construction of the first home in October 1996 on land in Guaico, donated by a benefactor, more than thirty (30) such homes have been built. Habitat for Humanity now has its own Board of Directors and Personnel, and, therefore, no longer needs the services of FEEL.

SOS Children's Village:

A project under development to provide community living for displaced, homeless or orphaned children.

FUNDING
Like all NGOs we must fund our operations: salaries, day to day expenses, customs costs, transport of containers from the two ports to the warehouse and, occasionally, transport of a container of donated items from its country of origin.

We, therefore, depend heavily on businesses, individuals and our efforts to raise funds to keep FEEL running. For example, British Gas recently held an Energy Challenge fund-raiser the proceeds of which they gave to FEEL. FEEL will thus be able to assist Non-Governmental Organisations with some of their projects. Also the JB Fernandes Memorial Trust has helped FEEL and the country in many significant ways.

Our three annual major fundraisers are:

Raffle (held at the beginning of the year)
Barbeque (July)
Dinner (November)

The response from all concerned continues to be magnificent. With our continued emphasis on accountability and transparency, FEEL publishes its annual Audited Accounts, and continues to demonstrate credibility and integrity of operations so necessary for gaining and maintaining the trust of donors.

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
1. From the very first meeting of the Board of Directors in March 1992 up to present date, not a single Board meeting has been missed.

2. Together with Cross International, the Catholic Medical Mission Board and the Living Water Community, we have been able to provide the country with:
Several containers of Medical Supplies, Medicines, Pharmaceuticals and Hospitals supplies valued at over Twenty-Five Million TT Dollars ($25,000 000.00).

• Containers full of Furniture which benefited our nation's schools.
• Containers of Clothing and Shoes (courtesy the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). Hundreds of Bags of Rice and Cornmeal.
• A Lithotripter valued at over Two Million Five Hundred Thousand TT Dollars ($2,500, 000.00).

3. From Kids in Distressed Situations (New York) we received over 250 Baby Cribs, worth over Two Hundred and Eleven Thousand TT Dollars ($211, 000.00).

4. A new addition was Boaters for Books, where 19 Cartons of Children Books were donated.

5. Our local benefactors continue to support us with all types of merchandise which the poor and needy request from us on a day-to-day basis.

6. A donation of over Five Hundred (500) Wheelchairs from the Wheelchair Foundation of California, U.S.A.

CONCLUSION
FEEL recognizes that it is not enough simply to "feed the poor". For that reason much of our work through our member NGOs assists them in becoming independent and acquiring resources that can empower the individuals in the communities they serve. We work with them to provide training, job opportunities, counselling and community development.

We must, however, never forget that empowerment is impossible on an empty stomach. Basic needs must be met before people can be asked to reach within themselves to work towards creating a better life for themselves. We, therefore, make no apologies for feeding the poor. We see this as a first step towards the "enhancement and enrichment of their lives".

Wherever and whenever there is a need, FEEL tries to fill it. Perhaps that is the reason we received, from the Trinidad Express Newspaper, a Citation as 'The Organisation that in 1994 contributed most to community development'.

FEEL remains ever grateful to all our Volunteers and benefactors and our dedicated staff without whom this work would not be possible.

CONTACT
Telephone: (868) 624-7758/7808
Fax: (868) 624-8773
Email: feel@tstt.net.tt
Warehouse #8B, Fernandes Industrial Centre,
Eastern Main Road, Laventille