"Sorry Kids. No Food Today."

12-year-old Isahia knew hard it was for his mom to provide food for the family.  So he went searching near his home for wild plants or roots to cook.  Today’s recipe: some leaves boiled in water.

“I found something called "Chipilín." It tastes little like a spinach leaf that adds some flavor to the boiled water,” said Isahia.

“He collects the plants and I make the broth,” added mom Marta.

But this flavored broth provided only a few calories.  Marta and the children were starving. 

“Some days when I can’t find work, I say ‘I am sorry children, but today we are not going to be able to eat. Tomorrow I will see what can I do.’ That breaks my heart,” said a tearful Marta.

Marta is a single mom raising 3 children.  Her husband abandoned the family four years ago. 

She works day to day trying to convince neighbors and friends to pay her to wash their clothes.  It’s one of the hardest jobs to find in El Salvador.   

“I am a mother.  I want to feed them properly. We are all struggling to survive.”

So after Operation Blessing met with Marta and trained her to run a business, we delivered a large amount of flour, eggs and other staples to sell right from her home.  

“Even when I had them in my hands, I couldn´t believe it, because I have never received a help like this, never,” said the grateful mom.

Business has been brisk over the past year, and Marta earns $250 a month in profits-.  Its enough to support her family and provide enough for them to eat. 

“Having a place to sleep and having something to eat every day is the best thing that ever happened to us,” she said.  “Thank you very much Operation Blessing.  I am so grateful to you.”  

“I will never have to go searching for leaves to eat again," said a happy Isahia. “Thanks so much for helping us!"