Update

I just returned from the trip to Puerto Rico last week. Debbie Warner, our former Vice Chair, accompanied me and was a huge help with the shopping and delivering of the supplies!

It takes hours to shop in the stores as we are working off of of 4-5 lists. We found the items requested, purchased them, loaded them into the rental car, unloaded them at the house, added to the pile another day from other stores, reloaded them into the car, and finally delivered them. This pattern happens repeatedly throughout the week.

We spent around $10,000 in supplies alone on this trip, not counting the rental car, housing, food, and airline ticket. For example: one orphanage needed clothes for their little ones- sizes 2t to 6 - and we provided about $3000 worth this trip.

While on the island, we bought hygiene packs for homeless women through a project run by the C&M Alliance in San Juan. We had lists from two Hogars (or children's homes) for medicine, clothes, hygiene products, baby gear, and office supplies.

We had an extensive food list for the afterschool program and a small list for a church that is starting a neighborhood Sunday School program for at risk children that will later expand to an afterschool program. Finally, we visited the single moms group and purchased their handmade jewelry, that we will be reselling here.

This trip blessed my heart so much as I held the babies, played and did crafts with the little ones, talked with the other directors, who work so hard every day, saw the slums where some of our kids live, and witnessed the sweet generosity of the single women. My prayer is that PHFTC blessed them at least as much as I was touched!