Mercy Night Launches Eggs Across The Globe
Posted 01/13/2011
January 16, 2011 - Memphis, TN
The annual Mercy Night held at Independent Presbyterian Church, is a call to the city of Memphis advocating the needs of vulnerable populations and equipping individuals to engage in becoming the solution. This year, a unique approach to addressing the problem of poverty and hunger in sub-Saharan Africa was unveiled by a church member and local advocate for social justice. Through partnerships with corporate entities and nonprofit organizations active in this region of Africa, eggs are being used to transform communities for generations to come.
Tom Phillips, President of Diversified Conveyors, Inc., presents this initiative as a comprehensive approach where state side partners, local businesses, and various churches and NGO's are united to empower nationals with jobs and provide protein to malnourished children. Job creation involves the construction of hen houses, business management, farming, transportation and animal care. State side partners provide skill training for each of these jobs, as each job is carried out egg production begins. Approximately half of all eggs are sent to local markets to provide affordable sources of protein and produce income.
The remaining eggs are designated to be purchased by OneEgg sponsors to be distributed at OneEgg sites. As official OneEgg sites; schools, orphanages, hospital wards, and daycare centers receive eggs to supplement current programs in need of protein. Protein is the key component required to facilitate proper physical development within children, it also is the most expensive. Protein deficiency is leading contributing factor in the development of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), which results in irreversible brain damage; blindness; increased risk of infection; and death.
Eggs serve as the perfect solution to aid in the recovery of malnutrition in children. They are an affordable source of high-quality protein including all nine essential amino acids and healthy unsaturated fats. One egg contains 13 essential vitamins and minerals needed to promote the proper development of children ages five and under.
The key to the entire model is sponsorship. A sponsorship of $5 a month allows for the delivery of protein to a malnourished child. It doubles the demand for the business side of the project while lowering the risk, intern doubling the number of jobs and the number of people now able to afford to buy eggs for their children.
Phillips is issuing a challenge to the event attendants to fully fund the first OneEgg child care center in Rwanda before night is out. For more information about how Independent Presbyterian responded to this challenge click here to get cluck from the coop!
