HERO INC C/O MARY GULDAN-LINDSTROM

IN 2023, THE VULNERABLE PEOPLE PROJECT CONTINUED SUPPORTING ITS WORK IN AFGHANISTAN AND UKRAINE, WHILE ALSO BEING SHAPED BY CRISES AFFECTING DIFFERENT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. IN AFGHANISTAN, VPP DELIVERED OVER 1 MILLION MEALS AND 40 MILLION HOURS OF HEAT THROUGH THE COAL FOR CHRISTMAS PROGRAM. VPP ALSO CONTINUED TO SUSTAIN DOZENS OF AFGHAN FAMILIES IN SAFE HOUSES. IN UKRAINE, VPP CONTINUED PARTNERING WITH CHALICE OF MERCY TO DELIVER A PALLET OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO THE FRONTLINES OF THE WAR AND WITH TIP OF THE SPEAR TO REMOVE LANDMINES IN CIVILIAN POPULATED AREAS OF UKRAINE. IN MAY OF 2023, AS CIVIL WAR ESCALATED IN SUDAN, VPP HELPED RESCUE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND PROVIDE REFUGEE KITS FOR THEM AS THEY RESETTLED IN THE NUBA MOUNTAINS. IN AUGUST OF 2023, VPP WAS ONE OF THE FIRST NGOS ON THE GROUND IN LAHAINA, HAWAII, WHEN A FIRE DESTROYED THE TOWN AND CAUSED WIDESPREAD DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION. AFTER THE INITIAL TRIAGE, VPP FOCUSED ON SACRED HEARTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL, SUCCESSFULLY RAISING MONEY TO UNDERWRITE THE COST OF TUITION FOR ALL THE STUDENTS. VPP ALSO CONTINUED AND EXPANDING ITS VULNERABLE PARISH PROGRAM IN NIGERIA, MALAWI, AND ZAMBIA, GIVING A MONTHLY STIPEND TO CATHOLIC PRIESTS TO USE FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AS WAR BROKE OUT IN ISRAEL IN OCTOBER 2023, VPP HELPED DISTRIBUTE FUNDS TO CHRISTIANS IN NEED IN GAZA. THE VULNERABLE PEOPLE PROJECT CLOSED THE YEAR WITH A SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL COAL FOR CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN, DISTRIBUTING FUEL, FOOD, AND MEDICINE TO VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN AFGHANISTAN, NIGERIA, MALAWI, AND MONGOLIA.