Thirty-four years ago, Mike and Martha Port were inspired by a vision that led them on a mission to address a significant issue. This inspiration stemmed from a local newspaper article highlighting that over 3 billion people lack reliable methods to heat water for drinking or cooking, and that an affordable solar oven could provide a solution. Many people in our global population face severe challenges due to deforestation in their countries, depriving them of essential resources.

The Ports dedicated themselves to researching and experimenting with ways to create an inexpensive yet effective solar oven. In 1990, during a mission trip to Haiti, they successfully cooked meals using ovens made from cardboard boxes, aluminum foil, and glass. Over the years, they refined the design for greater durability, eventually constructing plywood-framed solar ovens in Jamaica. With the knowledge and experience gained in those early years, they understood that the oven needed to be lightweight, durable, and cost-effective to produce.

In 1993, the Ports partnered with Persons Helping People, a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to raise funds and manufacture their envisioned solar oven. Over the past three decades, Mike and Martha have produced and distributed more than 25,000 ovens worldwide. A partial list of countries served—Algeria, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, United Arab Emirates, and the USA—reflects the dedication and perseverance behind this mission.