Frequently Asked Questions
We understand you may have questions about sponsoring a child. Here are some of the main questions we receive. If you need further assistance, please fill out the Contact Us form and we will get to you as soon as we can. We are also available for help by phone Monday – Friday. If you do not reach us, please leave us a message and we will call you back as soon as we can.
Can I send money to my sponsored child?
Money that you send cannot go directly to your child, but it can be applied to the area where your child lives for program support use. Feed the Children feels that birthday and Christmas monetary gifts to children is unfair to all the children who don’t receive gifts and has made a deliberate decision to not accept cash gifts for children.
Can I send a gift to my sponsored child?
Modest gifts, such as coloring books, sticker and activity sheets, may be sent to sponsored children. All contents must be unwrapped and fit into one 6” x 9” flat mailer envelope. Please send only gifts that can be shared among children. Individual gifts can sometimes cause create tension in the economically deprived areas where we work.
How long will my sponsorship last?
Child sponsorship is a voluntary, ongoing contribution. You decide how long you’re able to help. We understand that financial situations can and do change. However, we hope you will sponsor until the child graduates form the program and we encourage sponsors to view their support as a long-term commitment.
What do I write to my sponsored child?
Short and thoughtful messages are best. To get to know your sponsored child, you may wish to ask about his or her daily life, family and friends – and share the same about yourself.
How long does it take to receive a reply from my sponsored child?
Letter replies can take several months to reach you depending on local mail infrastructure, translation time and your child’s literacy level, so please be patient.
How do I cancel my sponsorship?
We understand life’s circumstances change and would hate to see you go. Would you like to pause your sponsorship temporarily? Contact us at 1-800-627-4556 Monday - Friday and we'll get you taken care of.
Can I share my sponsored child’s story via social media?
Yes, we would love for you to share. Please keep in mind that for your sponsored child's protection, we ask that you do not post any information online that could be used to identify or locate your child, such as last name, school name or location name.