Disaster Recovery- Elders, San Antonio Puerto Rico

During the last months Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza has been helping our elderly participants with hurricane recovery.  We've been working with the participants in different areas:  physical, emotional and with house loss.  Recovery has been slow but we have achievements.

For Father's Day the elderly received a present:  basic need articles and the participants expressed their joy with what they got.

Thanks to the donations we were able to increase the days for the meal distribution.  We are distributing meals five (5) days a week, from Wednesday until October 2018.  Prior to this we distributed meals two (2) days a week.  

One of our participant home was without running water prior to the hurracane.  We coordinated with other organizations to help him with this situation.   He authorized Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza to go to the corresponding agency to complete the process for him as he was unable to do so.   We also help him financially during the process.  The participant was without running water for ten (10) months after the hurricane and he had to buy bottled water or ask his neighbors for help.  Now, he is very happy and grateful as he will improve his hygiene and house chores with the running water.

Two elderly participants had a dermatology condition and our organization helped them to get their medicines as they didn't had the money to buy them.  We are doing follow up to their conditions.

To continue with the nursing service we bought blood glucose test strips, alcohol swabs and lancets.  The nurse will follow up the elderly health.

Another service we were able to provide was to fumigate some of the participants homes so they can be protected against insects and rodents.  

The donations helped us with these achievements, thanks to all.     

During the quarter our elderly participants received the meals as usual.  They are very grateful because after hurricane Maria impact our island last September as some of them lost their belongings (partially or total loss).  The cook have prepared 867 meals which were distributed by our driver to the elderly homes.  We were able to add another day to the meal distribution besides Saturdays and Sundays to help the elderly cope with the situation.  Part of the donations were used to pay the cook and driver because the grant budget we had for it was due.  We are searching new fund opportunities to cover this area.  

Hurricane Maria recovery has taken more time than expected.  Some of the participants who lost their belonging such as:  the roof, furniture and/or household goods, came to our office to request assistance.  We helped them to contact the corresponding agencies.  We have donated groceries and some meals to elderly people in need in the community also. 

 We bought gas for the kitchen stove and groceries to prepare the meals.  The kitchen has been fumigated to keep it clean and prevent the insects and vermin growth.  Our two vehicles required frequent maintenance and gas because of the continuous use and the contributions we received helped us to do so. 

The new hurricane season will start on June 1, 2018 and we started our preparations if case of another emergency.  Groceries inventory was done and we bought non-perishable goods so that the meal distribution won't be affected in case of another atmospheric emergency.

There have been much uncertainty in Puerto Rico after hurricane Maria hit the island.  The elderly were not ready for the magnitude of the hurricane and needed special attention during the recovery.  During the months of November,  December 2017 and January 2018 we continued with the meal distribution at the elderly homes during the weekends.   Sandwishes and bottle water were distributed to our participants and the community.  Bottled water distribution was very important because our community was left without running water and electricity for at least two months, some areas for three months.  During November we delivered hygiene items and a bag of groceries on a weekly basis to our participants.  They also got a Christmas Eve present:  a bag with a towel, some hygiene items and a blanket.  Up to this date, participants and some people from the community came to our office asking for groceries and we are able to provide them nonperishable food. 

One of our vehicles (year 2007)  had to be repaired because of the continuous usage to deliver meals.   Gasoline expenses for the vehicle increased and the office must use a generator to be able to continue providing our services.  Going back to normal have been very difficult because the lack of communication.  Up to this date (end of January 2018),  the office is still without the telephone and internet services.  We are using our personal cell phones and for the internet we ask any friend out of our community if they have this service and if we can use it for a while.   

Contributions also helped us with the kitchen expenses, cook and driver which are related to our nutritional service.  We are very commited to continue providing the elderly services during the crisis period.  We are very thankful to the Global Giving donors for their support during this hard time.

During the last three months Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza continue providing for the elderly needs.  Our main one:  meals which are distributed by volunteers to our participants during weekends.

September has been a hard month for us because of hurricanes:  Irma which hit the east side of the island and two weeks later hurricane Maria hit the whole island.  Prior to the impacts, the Case Manager visited all our participants.  Orientation on how to prepare for the hurricanes and what to do after it was given.  She also verified their needs and provided them with canned food, bottled water, and hygiene articles.  The Case Manager also verified the elderly needs after the hurricane and distributed some clothing.

Hurricane Maria impacted everyone, especially the elderly.  The main issues in the community has been the lack of electricity, running water, food and communications.  The elderly have a low income, especially from government aids and Social Security. Many do not have transportation to go to a supermarket, and most stores required to pay in cash because their systems were out of service.  Some of our participant houses lost the roof and everything inside was damaged because of the wind and rain.  Since the hurricane our community do not have running water and people must buy bottled water or go to an oasis for it.

Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza received some goods from the Red Cross, meals were prepared in our kitchen and took it to our participant homes.  Also for several days a local fast food donated sandwishes  for the participants and the community which were distributed by our personnel and volunteers.

Thanks to GlobalGiving donors, our organization has been able to continue providing meals, bottled water and articles such as briefs, under pads and wet towels to our participants.  As water is vital for everyone, we are going in our official vehicle to an oasis about 26 miles away to fill a water tank and be able to distribute water to people in our community, especially the elderly.

We are very grateful for the donations received during this difficult period.  Thanks to the donors we have been able to continue taking care of our participants and help our community. 

During the past months many activities were held.  We continue with our nutrition program providing the elderly with a healthy meal during the weekends.  Volunteers, youth and adults, distributed the meals to the elderly homes.  The participants buy  what they can get with their low income but not the healthy food they need.  The menu they receive from Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza is different every week and in some cases the only meal they receive that day.

Father's Day was special for our participants.  They receive a bag with some basic need articles such as: disposable razors, soap, tooth paste and brush. They expressed their gratitude and for many it was the only present they got that day. 

Health is very important because the person can be more relax not thinking that are vulnerable to get an illness, chronic pain or disease, it can save time, money and hospital visits.   The elderly will not have to be a burden to their loved ones and he/she can enjoy a better emotional wellbeing. Energy and vitality increases with a good health and for these reasons we provide follow-up to their conditions.  A nurse visits the participants to verify if they are taking their medicines and to indicate the importance of follow the instructions, monitor their glucose or blood pressure, and to provide orientation about the correct use of their medical equipment.  During the past months were were able to distribute Ensure and Glucerna shakes to provide nutrition for specific conditions.   

Proyecto La Nueva Esperanza appreciate the support we receive from the donors because it makes a positive impact to the participants.  Each donation help us to improve and/or continue providing our services.