Gulfstream Association & Food For the Poor stock clinic with medical supplies

Jul 28, 2009

SUPPLIES Michael Petty, director of missions for the Gulfstream Baptist Association, and Marie Toussaint, director of Church and Community Ministries, pick up medical supplies donated by Food For The Poor for use at local clinics. Courtesy photo

DONATED Marie Toussaint, Director of Church and Community Ministires for Gulfstream Baptist Association, stocks the shelves with supplies donated by Food For The Poor at Living Water Care Center in Pembroke Park. The clinic is run by the association on donations only and serves about 30 clients a week. Courtesy photo

COCONUT CREEK (FBW)—Surveying the full shelves of donated medical supplies at the Living Water Care Center in Pembroke Park, Marie Toussaint talked about how a partnership between Food For The Poor and the Gulfstream Baptist Association is making a difference for the poor in South Florida.

“You can’t imagine our joy when we saw the supplies,” said Toussaint, director of Church and Community Ministries for the Baptist association. “The week before we didn’t know how we were going to do it; we were squeezing the last drops out of tubes of gel, and then God answered our prayers.”

The 18 pallets of medical supplies and hygiene products were donated by Food For The Poor,
according to a FFP news release.

H. Michael Petty Sr., director of missions for the Gulfstream Baptist Association, was among a group of six Baptist leaders and others who traveled to Jamaica with Food For The Poor in January. Out of that trip grew a desire by the Baptists to work with Food For The Poor in its ministry. The donation of the medical supplies is the first step of that collaboration.

“We are tremendously pleased to be able to assist this organization that is doing so much good in the local communities,” said Robin Mahfood, president/CEO of Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the United States. “They are providing a vital service to the poor, and we are honored to partner with them.”

Petty also expressed his gratitude to Mahfood.

“My dear brother, you will never be able to measure the great joy and encouragement that accompanied the truckload of supplies. The people who will benefit from the supplies are obvious and tangible,” Petty said. “However, the ministry provided to the patients and to our team of servants is intangible, but nonetheless valuable and real.”

The Living Water Care Center has two locations, one in Pembroke Park that opened in 1998 and one in Fort Lauderdale that has been operating since 2002. The centers are open Mon.–Fri. from 9 a.m.– 3 p.m., and are staffed by doctors and nurses who volunteer their time.

“These two clinics are seeing increased patients during the country’s economic recession,” Petty said. “Meanwhile, the resources to operate the clinics are less. The contribution of these medical supplies will make possible our continued commitment to providing professional medical care with dignity and honor.”

Petty, who works within 170 Baptist churches in Broward County and whose staff and volunteers serve many Haitian clients at the clinic, said he is eager to have his group partner with Food For The Poor in Haiti. Water and farming projects are at the top of his fundraising list.

“The need is so great in Haiti, but if you can make a small difference in an area—then you have made a big difference in their lives,” Petty said.

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