Founder and Executive Director – Lorri Sawatsky

Lorri visiting 2010 Rice Rasier Sponsored FH Canada Project in Burundi

Born and raised in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley, Lorri married young and raised her family with a strong sense of Christian values and principals. She is now a grandmother of six beautiful children and is joyfully married to Randy Sawatsky. They have a blended family of six adult children and they live in Abbotsford.

Lorri worked for many years at Abbotsford Community Services where she experienced the ever growing needs of people in her community. Then, in 2005, Lorri had a change in employment and through her new job; she had the opportunity to travel to Cambodia.

It was on that short trip that Lorri witnessed poverty at a level that she could not have imagined. She met children who worked through the nights in garbage dumps searching for recyclable materials with the help of flashlights strapped to their heads. These children were uneducated and would stay that way as they were considered the ‘lucky ones’ who had jobs and therefore it was assumed that did not need to be educated.

Lorri was shocked at this experience and as a result, she sought to learn all she could about poverty in developing countries. In the mean time she also learned the importance of rice as a staple food to half of the people in the world. All the while, Lorri realized that most Canadians did not have a realistic understanding about the millions of people who struggle for survival in developing countries all over the world. Upon returning home, Lorri was reminded that in addition to the global issues, there were growing needs to be addressed in her own community and that hunger is hunger – no matter where one lives.

Through much earnest prayer and soul searching, the plan for the Rice Raiser Campaign concept was birthed in Lorri. Consequently, with the help of five others, Hunger Response International became the official Canadian registered charitable organization for The Rice Raiser Campaign and later, the HAVE A RICE DAY Movement. They remain Hunger Response International’s two main initiatives and both promote education combined with action to help the hungry. Hunger Response International continues to be a life impacting work and one that Lorri considers a privilege to be part of as she witnesses changes in the lives this organization touches on both the local and global levels.

It is a tremendously large and complex problem, but Lorri is convinced that through education and compassionate action, hunger can be changed and millions of people who previously lived in hopeless conditions can experience renewed hope and vision for their future and the future of our world. Lorri believes that we are all called to care for the hungry and for people living in extreme poverty. For when we do, we are giving hope – and that is the best gift one can give to another, but it requires action!