I expect you could use some good news. Well, we have it for you this month.
For starters, Hurricane Julia roared into eastern Nicaragua a few weeks ago. Thankfully, it did not pack the same punch as Hurricane Nate did in 2018. However, it did flood nearby communities, lashing the area with winds and heavy rain, as you can see from these photos…
But the electricity came on and roads became passable within two weeks. Phew! (Also relieved was our nonprofit Founder, who also happens to be named Julia!)
Also, phew! The storm did not overshadow or ruin one of the most exciting partnerships the Clinic has ever embarked on: our expanded Community Garden project.
This project, part of our Healthy Eating Initiative, has greatly expanded to include a vast community organic garden plot and a new facility for agricultural classes. The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic partnered with donor John Weston to promote this self-sustaining family nutrition and entrepreneurship program.
The partnership – initially planned to run for five years – will benefit up to 50 families in the “El Asentamiento” neighborhood in Tola.
The land we’re using for the project has an area of 1.4 hectares, which is divided into 50 lots. The lots will be assigned to 50 families.
The families will receive hands-on training in the biointensive method, and they will learn how to apply the protocols that the Clinic has been developing since 2016.
The project allocates a piece of land to each family during the training process and provides the tools and resources necessary to develop organic crops. Overall, the project contributes to improving the nutrition, economic situation and health of the families.
After two years, the individuals involved in the project will receive a certificate showing that they successfully completed their training in farming and sustainable organic gardening.
The land currently has an area for education, one greenhouse and a storage room, and we also provide safe water to drink and water for gardening.
The first course started on September 1 and will last for three months. Families are currently working on the land and will see the first harvest by December!
We cannot wait to show you how this project develops in the coming months.
But there is some concerning news. As you would expect in this downward economy, donations are down for the Clinic. To sustain these projects and continue running our 24/7 medical facility with all our health initiatives and programs, we need your support…
YES! I want to help The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic community today!
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic is supported by individual donations. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in Maryland, so all your donations are tax-deductible. We accept funds through PayPal, where you can also donate with your credit card. You can also mail a check, and we accept stock donations as well. To donate, click here.
Sincerely,
Lorena Cernadas
U.S. Development Office
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic
[email protected]
Direct line: 410.369.0512
P.S. The Oxford Club is providing matching funds this year up to a total of $50,000 for donations made by December 31, 2022.
P.P.S. A global generosity movement is happening on November 29, 2022! Giving Tuesday is a movement that’s unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Please support our mission of providing affordable access to high-quality healthcare and wellness programs in the Tola coastal communities of Nicaragua this Giving Tuesday. Click here to donate online.
]]>We hope you’re having a lovely and healthy summer.
In beautiful Nicaragua, our Clinic continues playing a critical role in helping the communities of the southwestern coastal region. We have one of the only ambulances that operates in these remote areas, and we continue to be there 24/7 for thousands of patients.
These are the times when people, particularly children, need us to reach out to them for their healthcare and education needs – not just wait for them to figure out how to access the Clinic and why they should.
Several years ago, we started the special and very successful Padrino Program, which is constantly in demand.
Our Clinic team currently works with 60 children and their families through this program – and there is a growing waitlist. Children in the program are matched with donors like you who provide financial sponsorship for monthly healthcare and education costs. The sponsors, whom we call “Padrinos” or “Madrinas,” enable each child to access healthcare and a formal education. The program allows for communication between the Padrinos or Madrinas and their sponsored children in the form of emails and handwritten notes.
The Padrino Program gives uniforms and school supplies to each sponsored child at the beginning of every school year. The children receive lab tests to assess their health twice per year. Every child also receives appropriate treatment for any medical condition. And when appropriate, we also provide nutritional support.
Our Clinic remains committed to fighting for the education, welfare and safety of all children who are part of this program.
We are also continuing to work with special cases, providing monthly support for medical appointments and offering transportation to specialists in Managua.
The children in our Padrino Program and their families also benefit from our Nutrition Program, which delivers protein concentrate, rice and beans on a monthly basis.
YOU CAN SPONSOR A CHILD TODAY!
Child sponsorship tackles poverty and empowers children, families and communities to become self-sustaining. It creates one-to-one relationships that give children in need hope for a brighter future and change their world for good.
We critically need more sponsors right now. We have a waitlist of children, which is unfortunately growing. These children and their families welcome and need your help. Many of the parents are without work at this time. Your support will have a positive impact on an entire community’s well-being.
Here is what your generous donation could provide for a child in Nicaragua:
• With a $25 per month donation for one year, one student could afford to purchase two sets of school uniforms and the necessary books, backpack and school supplies to fully engage in their school experience.
• With a $50 per month donation for one year, one student could afford to purchase two sets of school uniforms and the necessary books, backpack and school supplies, as well as an entire year of healthcare protection. This includes a bimonthly visit to our Clinic, medicine as needed, nutritional assistance with vitamins and supplements, and participation in a vaccination program. This level of giving provides a student with the comprehensive resources needed to succeed in school and beyond.
There is no doubt about it…
Your sponsorship will make a huge difference in the life of the child you sponsor – now more than ever.
Are you ready to become a sponsor?
Please click here to learn more about the Padrino Program and help a child today.
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic is 100% supported by donations. We were founded in 2004 and are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in Maryland in good standing. All donations are tax-deductible. We accept funds through PayPal, check and credit card.
Most sincerely,
Lorena Cernadas
U.S. Development Office
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic
[email protected]
P.S. If you love our work, then tell the world! Stories about us from people like you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community. GreatNonprofits – the No. 1 source of nonprofit stories and feedback – is honoring highly regarded nonprofits with its 2022 Top-Rated Awards. Will you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story about your experience with us? All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It’s easy and takes only three minutes! Click here to get started.
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The rainy season has started in Nicaragua, and we are ready to shower you with great news from our Clinic! We have important updates on our projects and programs.
In May, we received 40 food packages from our longtime supporter Isabel Currey, which we were able to distribute to 65 families. And we will continue to distribute more food packages in the coming months.
We are also grateful to see an uptick in the number of local families volunteering at the Clinic. It is a huge help to our small team.
They help with ordinary cleaning and maintenance in the different areas of the Clinic’s recently expanded facility. They also help weed and water our growing organic garden and keep our outdoor areas looking clean and beautiful!
We’ve also seen an increase in international volunteering. Beginning in May, Colton and his wife, Marlee, came to volunteer. Colton is a medical student, and Marlee is a cosmetologist. They were interested in participating in medical and nonmedical activities.
They supported our Clean Water Initiative by distributing bottles of water to local schools and helped with the washing and filling process in our water treatment plant. They also helped with packaging and delivering foods for our Nutrition Program and participated in a variety of activities. They visited our organic garden, learned about our beekeeping project, cleaned green areas, supported doctors and nurses in patient care, and took part in our Community Outreach Program.
In the words of our volunteer Colton…
This is a great nonprofit in rural Nicaragua that is doing a lot to help the people in nearby communities. They provide important medicine, free care, clean water and tons of other great programs to support their community. My wife and I volunteered here for two months while living in the nearby city of Rivas, and it was a great opportunity for us to learn more about the people here and see the challenges they face.
We love our volunteers! Want to learn more about our Volunteers Program? Click here!
As part of our Pandemic Prevention Program, our Community Outreach Program was created to serve families directly in their communities, prioritizing the communities that are more remote and have less resources. This has been a blessing for thousands of families.
Our medical brigades provide education on preventive health. They also provide instruction on how to use protective masks correctly and how to treat patients with a fever. Our medical brigades also distribute much-needed medicines.
Although the Community Outreach Program is expensive for our nonprofit, we know it is critical right now to directly serve the communities where chronic illnesses can have terrible consequences.
These Nicaraguan communities are in great need of primary care, emergency care and nutritional support. We are there on the ground in very tangible ways every day, and the communities are deeply appreciative. They are also participating in our programs in greater numbers than ever before.
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic is supported primarily by individual donations. We have a matching program through The Oxford Club. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in Maryland, so all your donations are tax-deductible. We accept funds through PayPal, where you can donate with your credit card. You can also mail a check, and we accept stock donations as well. To donate, click here.
On behalf of the Clinic team, enjoy your summer! And come visit us soon!
Sincerely,
Lorena Cernadas
U.S. Development Office
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic
[email protected]
P.S. If you love our work, then tell the world! Stories about us from people like you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community. GreatNonprofits – the No. 1 source of nonprofit stories and feedback – is honoring highly regarded nonprofits with its 2022 Top-Rated Awards. Will you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story about your experience with us? All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It’s easy and takes only three minutes! Click here to get started.
]]>Do you shop on Amazon? If so, it is easy to support The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic with each purchase.
Amazon Prime Day is today, July 13. Take advantage of the good deals while supporting The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic using AmazonSmile – simply click our unique charity link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/71-0926873.
What Is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience that you’d find on Amazon, with the added bonus that the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate a portion of your purchase price to your favorite charitable organization.
Can I use my existing Amazon account on AmazonSmile?
Yes, you use the same account on AmazonSmile as you do on Amazon. Your shopping cart, wish list, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.
How do I select a charitable organization to support when shopping on AmazonSmile?
To support the Clinic, simply follow our unique charity link and it will prompt you through the next steps.
To make your selection manually, start by going to smile.amazon.com. It may ask you to sign in with your Amazon credentials and then will prompt you to select a charitable organization.
Whichever route you take, AmazonSmile will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation. You can change your chosen charity at any time.
How much of my purchase does Amazon donate?
The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases.
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic is a 24/7 operation. We work around the clock to help the Tola community in Nicaragua.
Should you wish to make a direct donation, you can do so here. The Clinic is a donor-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in Maryland, so your donation is 100% tax-deductible.
Most sincerely,
Lorena Cernadas
U.S. Development Office
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic
[email protected]
Direct line: 410.369.0512
We’ve been very busy over the past couple of months in Nicaragua, and the work continues. The poor, remote communities surrounding the Clinic need us more than ever as they face mounting health and economic challenges. We work in a fragile region in the second-poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
We’ve all had our fill of tragic news this year. But we would like to share with you a few promising achievements of the year so far that we’ve been able to accomplish thanks to your support!
Our Outreach Program and the Support of Our Volunteers
In January, Chair of the Board Julia Guth visited our Clinic and participated in our first community outing of the year in La Cúcala, a remote community.
During the outreach activity, we provided medical care, medicines, education on proper hand-washing and talks on COVID-19 prevention.
We also received the support of Dr. Fred Mandell, a longtime Clinic supporter and member of our Advisory Council, who cared for children in the Clinic and in different communities in the area.
On January 20, a group of volunteers from surrounding communities assisted our team in packing food for our monthly delivery. We are very pleased with our local volunteers who have stepped up in the past couple of years to assist our team with daily activities, such as delivering water, cleaning green areas of the Clinic, maintaining the warehouse, packaging food, etc.
Also, Dr. Edward Hayes, an orthopedic physician, volunteered at our Clinic, providing acupuncture therapies, exercises and treatment for muscular issues. He assisted a total of 22 patients while he was at the Clinic.
These outreach activities happen every month. And we had more volunteers from the U.S. attend an outreach event in the La Uva community this month.
Are you interested in volunteering at our Clinic? Start the process here.
Improvements to Our Clean Water Initiative
We are in the process of making some major – and much-needed – renovations to our water treatment plant, including expanding the washing and filling area and making improvements to the filtration process.
This year, we will be supporting eight schools and three health centers. The cost of logistics and overall distribution continues to increase in Nicaragua, but we are committed to reaching the most vulnerable communities in the area with our Clean Water Initiative, despite all the challenges.
Helping One Child at a Time
In January, the first distribution activity for the children of our Padrino Program took place. As part of this rewarding program, children receive school uniforms, books, a backpack and school supplies, as well as an entire year of healthcare protection, including a bimonthly visit to our Clinic, medicine as needed, and nutritional assistance with vitamins and supplements. Fifty dollars per month provides a student with the comprehensive resources needed to succeed in school and beyond. Join our Padrino Program here.
In addition to delivering school supplies, uniforms and a small snack for the children, we also addressed important issues of motivation and continual care in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We practiced proper hand-washing and emphasized the importance of using prevention methods in public places.
Nutrition Program for Healthy Living
In February, we received support from Isabel Currey, who donated 60 food packages for the families of our Nutrition Program.
On February 18, food packages were delivered, benefiting 58 families and a total of 232 people.
This program is possible thanks to the donations of our local partners and private donors like you.
We are very proud of our accomplishments so far despite all the challenges we have faced over the past couple of years – including two hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Clinic is a 24/7 operation. We will continue to work around the clock to respond to the current crisis and help the community get back on track.
Your donation will make a huge impact on the lives of thousands of Nicaraguans suffering today.
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic is a donor-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in Maryland, so your donation is 100% tax-deductible. We also accept cryptocurrency donations and stock donations.
Most sincerely,
Lorena Cernadas
U.S. Development Office
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic
[email protected]
Direct line: 410.369.0512
P.S. Click here to review our 2021 Operational Report.
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