La Fondita de Jesus in the Community

Distinguished Donors:

Greetings on behalf of Corporación La Fondita de Jesús' family. With great respect, we are reporting our achievements and challenges while providing services to vulnerable communities through the "La Fondita de Jesús en la Comunidad" (La Fondita de Jesús in the Community) program from May through August 2025. 

During this quarter, our project delivered 16,898 service units to 1,353 unique individuals and families in 110 communities, from which 16 (15%) were impacted for the first time by our project. In other words, there is an average of 12 units of services per participant. These communities are in the following 12 Puerto Rican municipalities: Bayamón, Canóvanas, Carolina, Culebra, Guaynabo, Patillas, San Juan, Maricao, Utuado, Yabucoa, Toa Baja, and Trujillo Alto.

Trying to keep you as informed as possible regarding the demographic descriptions of the people we provided services to during this period, the distribution per gender was as follows:

• Females = 63%
• Males = 36%
• Transgender and non-binary = 1%

56% of the population served (n=921) were older adults (ages 55+), 10% (n=129) were children (ages 0-17), and 2% (n=31) were young adults (ages 18-24); all from vulnerable communities. We always point out that these individuals, families, and communities are at imminent risk of losing their homes, given their needs, life circumstances, and social determinants of health.

Donating materials needed for participants in impacted communities is always part of our work. Some of the donations provided during this quarter were pillows, arts & crafts materials, boxes of water bottles, medical equipment, hydrating electrolytes, Narcan and Fentanyl Test Strips, vitamin C bottles, clothing, emergency groceries, tables, adult diapers, underpads, over-the-counter medications, prescriptions, ETS prevention kits, hygiene kits, house cleaning kits, and hot lunches.

Workshops were developed and provided regarding the following themes:

• Father's Day Reflection workshop
• Literacy workshop
• Conflict Management and Community Violence
• Healthy Relationships
• Designing with Canva
• Basic Cell Phone Handling and Use
• Basic Use of Computers
• Writing An Effective Resumé
• Strategies to Avoid Isolation and Loneliness
• Communication and Social Networks
• Using Online Search Engines
• Emotion Management in Children
• Oral Hygiene for Older Adults
• Healthy Smiles for Children
• Active Aging
• All About Opioids and Naloxone
• Story Reading: Environmental Justice Is for You and Me
• Support Group: Community Violence and Conflict Management

Some of our most important achievements during this period were as follows:

• During this period, we had the opportunity to impact 16 new communities.
• In general, the participation of community members continues to increase.
• During this period, home visits and case management have allowed us to identify and address multiple basic needs, such as food, transportation, personal hygiene items, adult diapers, and medical equipment. This direct intervention has been crucial in ensuring access to essential services, especially for those living alone or in vulnerable conditions. Furthermore, the continuity of these visits has strengthened the relationship of trust with the community, facilitating the early identification of high-risk situations and providing dignified and empathetic support in their well-being processes.
• Participants show interest in benefiting from the support provided by the organization and using the services to develop their self-sufficiency in different areas of their lives, such as housing, employment, studies, health, etc.
• At the Konect@os Technological and Educational Center, we have managed to sustain active community participation by offering a variety of monthly workshops that seek to bridge the digital divide, foster technological learning, and promote personal independence. As part of these initiatives, we hold Social Exchange Fridays, an inclusive, safe, and accessible space where topics such as autism spectrum disorder, mental health, self-care, social disconnection, and the rights of the LGBTTQIA+ community are addressed. These activities have been key in fostering dialogue, strengthening empathy, and contributing to the creation of more conscious and supportive communities.
• Several community impacts were achieved together with the multidisciplinary team, providing social work, case management, and outreach services, offering guidance on the organization's services, and establishing various links with private and government agencies.
• During this period, educational workshops were held to address and prevent violence in the community. These workshops provided participants with valuable information and practical tools to address violent situations, promoting a safer and more aware environment. We even started a support group for community leaders in a high-violence-rate community.
• We have impacted more than 100 children and adolescents aged 5-17 through educational workshops to strengthen their reading-writing, leadership, and psycho-emotional skills. It is worth noting that topics such as self-esteem, respect for the environment, diversity, and emotional management were addressed, among other relevant issues, in the school, family, and community context.

Challenges:

• During this period, the need for affordable housing for participants continues. The stigma, prejudice, businesses, short-term rentals, and the high-cost rental market, among other factors, have contributed to the challenging process of locating participants with housing vouchers in our programs, which affects their well-being.
• Throughout this period, the urgency of continuing to create spaces for dialogue and awareness on topics such as mental health, self-care, inclusion of the LGBTTQIA+ community, and neurodiversity has become evident. Although initiatives such as Social Exchange Fridays have represented significant progress, stigmas and social barriers persist that must be consistently addressed.
• The need for food assistance and security has intensified, given the increase in the number of people requesting this type of support. Many of them report that the State's Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) does not cover their needs throughout the month, especially given the constant increase in the cost of living.

We are incredibly grateful to all of you, our social investors, who believe in our work and commitment and continue to allow us to have an impact on the lives of so many people consistently! Should you need additional information or have any questions regarding this report, please do not hesitate to contact us through the GlobalGiving Foundation. Thank you!

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