Taryn Fulp runs Aliento feeding program in a small town in Escuintla. As part of this program, she encountered many children who were malnourished and in need of intervention. To address this need, she opened a branch of Hope for Home’s formula programs in this very town!
Jonathan and Joshua Fulp mix our own formula to bulk mix and supply children in the 4 wheel drive program- that is children in remote areas with special needs. The formula they mix also supplies 5 formula programs the ministry is involved with, and the most hands on. The largest formula program is run by another ministry, and we simply partner to provide the formula our team mixes. It is incredible to watch the body of Christ working cohesively together. Aliento’s formula program is the second largest of the 5.
Another of the programs is run by a few nurses in a remote health center. Although they are a government health center, their remote location far up the side of a volcano means they have extremely limited resources (often out of basic children’s acetaminophen, and years without a glucometer)! While partnering with them, we have had the opportunity to support and watch these local ladies pour into their own community without the foreigners overstepping and ruining things!! They monitor about 25 malnourished children in their area and provide our formula along with education to their moms.
Another few of the programs are smaller and associated with our birthing centers, a newer feeding program in a partnering ministry, and a few local cases. The beauty here is that these smaller groups tend to have better individual and recurring relationships with the moms. Often their visits are a full appointment with time to ask personal questions and sit together.
In Aliento’s case, Taryn’s moms come once a month for weigh day! This is always on a soup day, so moms can enjoy a meal as well as receive formula. This is a long, hot, crazy day where all the kids are weighted to track their progress. At the beginning of the day, a nutrition lesson is given and educational resources handed out to the moms. Each child has their own file so their progress or struggles can be tracked. Taryn rides an excellent balance between physical health, family situation, and other determining factors for adding kids to the program. She also helps celebrate when a child graduates by encouraging the mom and applauding her hard work.
To learn more about Taryn and her work through Aliento, check out:
aliento_37.56 on instagram
or Taryn Fulp on facebook
