Zero Deaths... A Collective Response to COVID-19

Eight months into the pandemic, and we’ve had ZERO DEATHS in the supported communities

Our ZERO DEATHS strategy has led us to support more than 46 non-profit organizations in their quest to educate and contain the virus and; in their process of providing other essential services. Sixty-four (64), out of our 78 municipalities have been impacted with $802,966 in grants. One of those organizations is PryMed, a community health clinic in Ciales, a municipality in the central region of the island. They have been able to serve 1,000 elders, some of them with mobility problems or homebound. They focused on providing baskets with local produce and non-perishable food items to help avoid visits to the stores and minimize contagious risk. One of the participants voiced out her gratitude, when part of the staff brought groceries on a Friday afternoon, it was not until Sunday that her son had planned to visit with some groceries, as she explained to PryMed staff that she was already out of food supply.  “¡Gracias mija!”, which translates to ‘thanks my friend’. “I was waiting for my son to come over the weekend to buy some little things…”, told the old lady, according to the organization's report.

In addition to educational and preventive services, our strategy supported microbusinesses affected by the pandemic to reduce closing risks and facilitate the operation. One of the grantees was Agape Tiendita Solidaria y Café, a thrift and consignment store in Arecibo -a municipality on the northern coast of the island. “One of the biggest challenges we faced has been keeping up to date with business operational payments. The lack of income has accumulated debts”, said the business owner report to FCPR. He explained that they had to close temporarily from March 16 to July 28 to keep the employees and clients safe. “This grant served as a fund to pay off some outstanding debts and start with a new impulse”, added.  The grant was used to pay the rent, license, energy service, and payroll. Another five micro businesses received grants.

The supported organizations have reached more than 14,981 people; have provided over 10,098 grocery bags and boxes of nutritional supplements; and 3,073 Covid-19 tests have been being administered in coordination with private laboratories. Also, 31 organizations and academic institutions have become allies of the initiative expanding educative initiatives in many communities around the island.