FOOD AID PROGRAM
Almost a third of the local population in Cabarete suffers from severe Food Insecurity, which means they have less than 3 days worth of food in reserve at home.
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Cabarete Sostenible strives to remedy this problem through several complementary programs.
The Cabarete Sostenible Emergency Food Aid Program supports residents facing food insecurity by delivering monthly food packages directly to their homes. We work with local distributors and small family farms to provide nutritious, culturally appropriate food.
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Powered by a strong volunteer network, the program offers ongoing monthly support and an emergency response system that mobilizes the community when urgent needs arise. Since April 2020, we have distributed Over 4,000 food packages throughout Cabarete.
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In January 2024, we launched the “Share a Meal with Someone in Need” campaign through La Cocina Comunitaria. Since then we have provided 1,165 ready-to-eat meals. Patrons can donate RD$300 with the purchase of a lunch special to help feed a neighbor in need.
How We Identify Families in Need
Due to limited and unreliable address and census data, identifying vulnerable households in the Dominican Republic is challenging. To address this, we created the Cabarete Sostenible Questionnaire, our own community-led census.
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The questionnaire collects essential demographic information to identify vulnerable populations—such as elders, single parents, and people with disabilities—while remaining voluntary, confidential, and volunteer-led. It follows strict data protection protocols and is available in Spanish, Haitian Creole, and English.
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This system allows us to accurately track food distribution and prioritize households requiring immediate support, particularly unaccompanied elders and people with disabilities.
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The Emergency Food Aid Program prioritizes:
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Unaccompanied elders
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People with disabilities
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Unemployed single parents
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The Food Aid Program is funded through fundraising campaigns, partnerships, individual donors, grants, sponsorships, and small-scale revenue sources.
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A typical food package includes:
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Rice and beans
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Root vegetables (sweet potatoes, yucca)
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Cooking oil
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Oatmeal and milk
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Leafy greens (spinach, lettuce, arugula)
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Fresh herbs (mint, lemongrass, moringa, citronella)
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Seasonal fruits (green and ripe bananas, plantains, starfruit, passion fruit)
