The Transformative Power of Compassion
The last two weeks have felt like a whirlwind of non-stop service that has left me worn out, overwhelmed and frustrated at times, and yet optimistic and grateful all at once. Last Sunday, the exhaustion finally caught up with our team–three busy days preparing our educational farm for the impact of Hurricane Fiona, followed by a full week of 14-16 hour work days responding to the community’s needs. And the post-hurricane breeze and fresh air left us a couple of days earlier, replaced by the intense heat and high humidity levels typical for this time of year, adding an extra layer of challenge to our relief work. Over the last few days, we’ve finally organized into rotating shifts, giving individuals a chance to take a few hours off to rest, wash their clothing, and call family members, while also keeping up with our commitment to offer daily meals and keep our community center, La Cancha Sana, open to the public for service during this critical time. This second week, we have been able to find a rhythm and pace that has felt more sustainable for our team, yet focused and fast-paced in a way that responds appropriately to the urgency of the situation.
Thankfully, the impact of Hurricane Fiona wasn’t as severe in our area of Las Marías as it was in some of the coastal regions of Puerto Rico that experienced severe flooding. Yet being left without essential public utilities (including water and power) has had a big toll on everyone, especially our most vulnerable community members, like seniors living alone and families with young children. I have witnessed firsthand how difficult this experience has been for them, and I can definitely tell you that there is still a very real and urgent need for daily support and companionship.
Abraham, an Abu in the Amo mis Abus program
For example, imagine the current circumstances of Abraham, one of our local “Abus” (seniors) in our meal delivery program. He is in his 80s with limited physical mobility, living alone with no running water or electricity since Hurricane Fiona impacted Puerto Rico two weeks ago. All of the food in his fridge and freezer has spoiled due to the power outage, limiting his food access to preserved and canned foods. He fumbles around in the relative dark at night, lit only by a few solar powered lanterns, and experiencing an increased risk of falling or having an accident while going to the restroom or trying to prepare a meal. He no longer has the physical strength to turn on a generator, ruling this out as an option. He has no running water, and the stench of urine and stool just keeps building up because he hasn't flushed the toilet for 2 days. The lack of access to water makes his environment unhygienic and increases their risk of falling ill.
It is emergent needs like this that are motivating our team to push through and serve with a sense of urgency as we enter our third week of relief service.
We’ve made the commitment to prepare fresh “farm to table” meals daily until water and electricity returns to Las Marías, which may take another 1-3 weeks. These meals are prepared with love and high quality ingredients, and are delivered daily to over 50 seniors in our community. They are also made available at La Cancha Sana to anyone in need, impacting an average of 125 - 150 individuals. Knowing they can count on a hot plate of food every day provides a level of stability and comfort for individuals facing such challenging circumstances. Additionally, Amo Mis Abus program leader Migdalia is leading groups of volunteers to provide additional support to the seniors, discarding spoiled foods, cleaning refrigerators, flushing toilets and cleaning bathrooms, and washing their laundry. It’s been incredible to see the willingness of our team and volunteers that have jumped in fearlessly and assisted with this service under such challenging circumstances.
We also continue to work to alleviate the current water crisis, offering purified rainwater at La Cancha Sana and installing rainwater harvesting cisterns in households throughout the community. It has been deeply satisfying to see the cisterns fill up after an afternoon rain, and learn what a difference it is making to have access to a replenishable source of water that can be used for cleaning, flushing toilets, washing dishes and clothing, and showering. And after filtering rainwater with one of the low-tech, gravity-fed filters we are distributing, these families can even utilize the water for cooking and drinking. I recently stopped by to check on a cistern that we installed last week at the home of one of our Abus. Justino is an impressively agile and clear-minded 81-year-old man with a positive and grateful attitude, despite debilitating chronic pain in his neck due to a spinal injury that was never properly treated. He was sitting on his front porch with two neighbors, and they all quickly jumped up to inspect the cistern with me, appreciating the professionalism of the work and relishing the rush of water into the bucket.
We’ve been so inspired by the work of the volunteers and community-led nonprofits throughout Puerto Rico that have stepped up to do the needful, lending a helping hand to those most vulnerable to this crisis. We’re also overwhelmed with gratitude for the support from so many individuals that have come forward to join us in this work, either participating in our work parties and/or donating funds and materials to enable us to sustain and further expand our reach.Thank you for trusting us and for your desire to serve alongside us. I’m more convinced than ever that resiliency is so much more than sustainable technologies and local food production.
Resiliency means a community of people that proactively look for ways to support each other; a culture of service and shared interests.
We have a lot of work to do to support Puerto Rico in this moment of need, and we’re also committed to the long-term work required to build strong and united communities that have the resources and social networks that enable us to not only survive, but to genuinely thrive. It’s important to be realistic about the challenges that we’re facing together–a confluence of multiple environmental, political, economic and social problems that are only exacerbated by an event like Hurricane Fiona. But I also firmly believe that it’s just as important to acknowledge the transformative power of compassion, especially when it is expressed in an organized and unified manner, touching one life, one family, and one community at a time.
Photos by Kathia Lugo Photography, AG Artists PR, and Plenitud PR Staff
