Bringing Peanut Butter and Jesus to African Children

"They do have food," said Heather Premac, "but their bodies are wasting away."

Premac of Coto de Caza has visited Malawi twice this year. She is the director of business development for PB+J Foods of Laguna Niguel. The "PB" stands for the fortified peanut butter paste they make for Malawians to ward off malnutrition. The "J" stands for Jesus.

"It's not about converting people and saving people," Premac said. According to PBJFoods.org, "Our God is ... a polite God who does not force Himself on anyone. We share His offer of salvation to all who are interested at our product distribution outreaches and other opportunities given to us."

Malawians grow the peanuts. The peanuts are part of the therapeutic food given to Africans suffering from malnourishment. Doctors from Nkhoma Hospital prescribe PB+J's food for four- to six-week treatments.

Each malnourishment treatment costs about $30, Premac said.

Why does a small Christian nonprofit from Orange County need to step in when so many nations and large nonprofits give hunger aid to Africa?

Because that aid is "very sporadic and comes in very small amounts, and a lot of times those shipments can get intercepted," Premac said.

And although most Malawians are honest, she said, "even our products will be sometimes prescribed to a child and we have to make sure the mother is actually feeding the child. Out of desperation they'll give it to their other children or sell it for money."

Since forming their nonprofit in Aug. 2012, PB+J has treated 1,200 children. Their goal is to permanently end childhood malnutrition in Malawi and hope to raise $360,000 in 2014 to treat 11,000 more. They are funded through private contributions.