Fundraising appeal runs through the end of June 2025.

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (May 8, 2025) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, has launched its annual “Loaves and Fishes” fundraiser to raise critical funding to ship life-saving aid to more than 130 countries around the globe. Because the cost of shipping critical aid is far less than its value, donations are multiplied many times over. For every dollar donated, Salesian Missions is able to ship $14 worth of critical goods to its programs. The fundraising appeal runs through the end of June 2025.

Aimed at maximizing the impact of donor-assisted programs and answering the call for emergency aid deliveries, the Salesian Missions Property and Logistics Program is made possible by generous assistance from private sector partners.

“Salesian Missions ships critical in-kind donations from our strategic partners to Salesian centers worldwide,” explained Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “Aid like food, water, medicine and housing supplies are provided to Salesian students so they can focus on their education and thrive in their communities. Our strategic partnerships allow us to help at the local level in these communities. It makes a big impact and our donors ensure these shipments continue.”

In 2024, in partnership with Rise Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organization growing a global movement to end hunger, close to 1,700 youth at Salesian schools in Uganda had better access to better nutrition. Four Salesian schools received the meals.

More than 600 youth at Don Bosco Children and Life Mission (Don Bosco CALM) benefited from the nutritious meals, as well as nearly 700 students at the Don Bosco School Bombo and 380 students at the Salesian vocational schools in Bombo and Kamuli.

In Uganda, like the rest of East Africa, food prices have increased, which has in turn impacted feeding programs at Salesian schools. These economic challenges are a result of climate change that affected the agriculture sector, doubling the cost of basic food staples like maize, rice and beans.

A Salesian noted, “We struggle to access basic foodstuffs like we used to. The price of food keeps increasing. The deployment of armed forces, due to the upcoming election, in the towns also makes people have doubts about what will happen tomorrow and scares off some of the farmers from participating in the local markets because they have no guarantee that their efforts will not be wiped out by violence.”

The shipments of meals were also sent to the Salesians of Don Bosco in Haiti. The meals were then distributed to 11 Salesian centers and schools. Salesians facilitated school feeding programs, family meetings, professional training, primary and secondary education, apprenticeships, catechesis classes, and various other social activities.

Haiti faces ongoing political and social strife. The centers in Cap-Haïtien, including Lakay Cap and the Vincent Foundation, have experienced less political violence but have still felt the effects of the upheaval with rising market prices. Timkatec and Lakay Lakou are located in Port-au-Prince and have had to deal with the gangs and violence on the streets along with closures. Don Bosco Tech in Fort-Liberté has had an influx of people fleeing the capital for the relatively safer north and has seen an increase of children on the streets.

A Salesian noted, “We appreciate Rise Against Hunger and the solidarity from the United States for sending food for our youth. We can see the joy on the face of each child after eating and when they arrive home.”

More than 30,000 Salesian missionaries are dedicated to caring for poor and at-risk youth in programs around the globe. Salesian programs assist youth through education (academic, trade, agriculture) and workforce development initiatives, emergency relief and humanitarian aid, infrastructure support, clean water initiatives, and nutritional and health services. To learn more and make a donation, visit SalesianMissions.org/multiply.

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