In January, BBF sent a shipment of medical supplies and medicine to Guatemala in partnership with Food for the Poor. The supplies were distributed by the Sovereign Order of Malta, Guatemala, an organization recognized for its longstanding humanitarian and medical work in the country’s most underserved areas.

Guatemala, home to more than 18 million people, faces some of the most severe health and poverty challenges in the Western Hemisphere. Nearly 60 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, with rates reaching as high as 79 percent among the country’s indigenous communities. High fertility rates, widespread malnutrition, and lack of access to healthcare—especially in rural areas—continue to impact health outcomes, particularly for women and children. According to UNICEF, nearly half of all Guatemalan children under five are chronically malnourished.

The Sovereign Order of Malta works to address these inequities through medical outreach and social support programs. One recent example of their impact is the story of Flavio, a 62-year-old resident of Cantón Altos de Villa Canales. Living on a modest pension of just $156 per month, Flavio began experiencing severe health symptoms, including blurred vision, vomiting, and frequent nosebleeds. After being diagnosed with hypertension and swelling in his legs, the cost of treatment was far beyond what he could afford.

Through the Association “Por Una Vida Mejor,” part of the Order’s aid network, Flavio received free care and a full course of essential blood pressure medication. “If it weren’t for this help, I wouldn’t have been able to buy the medicine,” he said. The support likely prevented a life-threatening heart attack or stroke.

BBF’s shipment helped make stories like Flavio’s possible. The partnership with Food for the Poor and the Sovereign Order of Malta continues to deliver life-changing assistance to individuals and families in Guatemala—offering more than just medicine, but hope and dignity to those often left without either.