Breakfast Feeding Programs The goal of YUGO's Mercy Ministries division is to assist in meeting some of the most basic practical needs of the Mexican people. When we first heard several years ago that some of the Mexican school teachers were not allowing hungry children into their classrooms, we were shocked. School teachers told us that children who arrive to school hungry do not learn well, as they are unable to focus and concentrate, and often become disruptive. We came up with a good solution: offering breakfast for these children. The success of these breakfast programs has been highly encouraging. These programs offer so much more than meeting a child's basic need for food, these programs provide the opportunity to teach children good eating habits, good hygiene (how to brush their teeth), and responsibilities such as cleaning up after themselves. In addition, children are also taught God's Word through Bible stories, songs and prayer. YUGO now has several breakfast programs that are up and running, in Tijuana, Mexicali, and, Ensenada. Tijuana
Mexicali Meanwhile, the breakfast program in Cipres is run completely by a local Mexican pastor, his wife, and one other church member. Five days a week these three purchase, cook and serve food to 35+ children. This program is currently in need of funds to continue functioning.
Ensenada Ensenada Outreach Center currently has feeding programs in place in five different villages: These programs currently reach about 300 children, plus mothers and people in need from the communities. It is such a blessing to be able to serve them and meet one of their basic needs. It costs about 40 cents per child for a meal. While this may not seem like a lot, we are providing filling, nutritious meals for these children. These programs depend on food and monetary donations to keep going and growing. There are eight more communities that would like to open programs, but that depends on our resources growing. Praise God for those that are in place!
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The first breakfast feeding program in
Tijuana began in October 2002 at Pastor Martin Castro's Grace Church.
Martin had been praying for many years for a breakfast program at his church. The
program began with 30 children and now feeds nearly 100! The goal of seeing the
local church members get involved in feeding these children has already come to
pass. With numerous donations of food coming from individuals as well as
two food corporations, this feeding program has been having a huge impact on the
local community.
Two breakfast programs are currently
being run in the Mexicali valley. Each week in Volcano,
Mexican Pastor Loreto
Beltran drives in to Mexicali. He goes there to buy food, not for himself,
but for 20 other families. After the food is bought, Loreto and his wife separate the food into
care packages for individual families.
Loreto then delivers
these packages to each family, also delivering words of encouragement in the Lord. 
Las Flores, Maneadero, El Zorrillo, El Borre, and Lomas Bonitas. Each program is run by a team of Mexicans, the pastor of the church and some congregational members. They prepare the food, sing with the children, teach a Bible story, and pray with them before serving the food. Melody Gonzalez, a missionary at EOC, buys enough food for the month for each of these progams, and helps coordinate them.