2020
ACCOMPLISHMENT SUMMARY
The year 2020 was one of many difficulties for our communities. It is in those special situations that nonprofits like AMPI have the most opportunity to make themselves felt. That was the case of AMPI during the past year 2020.
Some of the achievement through our services are summarized below.
January-March 2020-PR Southern Area Earthquakes
• AMPI worked directly with the residents of the Villa Diablo communities and the Guánica Fishermen's Community, where we tended to the initial needs of the families affected by the January 7 earthquake.
• Over $ 5,000 worth of items bought through private donations were delivered to several communities.
• Tents were set up, sleeping bags were bought, cots, food, water, pillows, blankets and new clothes among other items, were distributed to over 100 families.
• With the help of SOSPR Corporation, Inc, toilets and showers were built for their use.
• AMPI donated a power plant to La Villa de los Pecadores( fishermen’s group) so they could save the fish they already had in their refrigerators and / or could continue with their fishing.
• In collaboration with the Universidad Católica de Ponce, we distributed highly needed articles to families in the communities of Ponce and Peñuelas.
• Over 50 emergency backpacks were distributed
• A recreational area was prepared for the youth of the Villa Diablo Camp and sports equipment was donated to them.
• The Ángel Ramos Foundation made a special donation to AMPI in order to help with Ampi’s immediate and those who we served during these hard times.
• One of our residents from La Casa de AMPI was placed in competitive employment at Puerto Rico Industries for the Blind.
March-April-COVID-19 Pandemic
• All protocol preparations for the pandemic situation were carried out.
• Identification of needs in Ampi’s Assisted living facilities were assessed and completed.
• Primary care staff was adequately trained to deal with the new codes brought on by theCOVID-19 Pandemic.
• Assistance and guidance was offered to program’s parents on how we would they could manage their adult children at home during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• We offered a bazaar to distribute clothes in the Community of La Chorra in Mayagüez.
• Hundreds of essential items were received from RUM / Walgreens to be distributed by AMPI and volunteers in affected communities.
May-August-Food Distribution-Re: COVID19
• AMPI signed a collaborative agreement with Caribbean Produce and United Way Puerto Rico for the distribution of boxes of fresh food in the Western area. During this period we distributed more than 12,000 boxes of food to over 160 communities in Mayagüez, Añasco, Aguada, San Sebastián, Hormigueros, Cabo Rojo, San German and Lajas. The picture below shows the typical lines of people waiting in their cars to receive the food boxes at AMPI’s facilities.
• Dozens of volunteers were recruited from churches, the RUM Come Colegial Project, the San German Lions Club, among others.
August-Storm Isaías Hits the Mayagüez area
• We visited our neighbors in the Buenaventura, Valle Hermoso and Comunidad Nasal residential areas. These where some of the hardest areas hit by flash floods during the storm.
• More than 100 boxes of food were distributed, house to house, among the residents of these communities.
• In collaboration with the Hispanic Federation, AMPI distributed $ 25,000 in vouchers for articles and appliances to 50 pre-qualified families. An additional $ 5,000 in food vouchers were also distributed to 50 families in need in Mayagüez and neighboring towns.
September-2020 Population Census
• In collaboration with United Way Puerto Rico and the Hispanic Federation, AMPI’s personnel and volunteers help through promote participation in the population census.
• AMPI distributed over 120 additional food boxes sponsored by AMPI and CARITAS in a special project. These boxes were intended mainly for elderly families from very low income communities.
• AMPI signed a collaborative agreement with the Carlos Albízu University to receive three students from their Master's in Psychology Program. The students evaluated the residents of the housing program as well as many participants of AMPI’s daily programs. They also offered motivational and personal hygiene lectures, and worked individually to alleviate their fears regarding loneliness and the struggles caused by the pandemic.
• AMPI continued working to help people with intellectual disabilities all through this time. Through the sponsorship of the Banco Popular Foundation and in collaboration with other entities that provide direct services to adults with intellectual disabilities we have been able to develop new and innovative ideas to help our residents. AMPI has also continued working with entities like Sociants and Seriously Creative looking to identify people with intellectual disabilities in need of services throughout Puerto Rico.
October-La Tiendita de AMPI
• Thanks to private contributions and collaborators such as MARSHALLS and WAL MART, we reopened La Tiendita de AMPI, a second-hand goods store. Presently, the store is located on AMPI’s location in order to make it easily managed by the staff.
• During this month, AMPI’s Board of Directors began its fundraising campaign by selling cloth masks to be used during the pandemic. We are still working on this campaign.
• AMPI received approval for a proposal submitted to the Enterline Foundation. Its main focus is to develop a remote education program for our residents and AMPI participants. This project will be carried out in collaboration with other organizations beginning in January 2021.
• During the month of October we received a huge donation of essential materials from Hope Haven Development in Iowa. They are one of our collaborators, members of ANCOR International, who carried out a fundraiser activity among their friends and collaborators. They sent hundreds of masks and plastic face shields to be distributed to our participants and communities in need.
• Also in the month of October, AMPI was visited by a young Boy Scout, Jovino Martínez from Troop 39 who worked on the remodeling of the CEBRAIS interior patio and other activities as part of his personal Eagle Scout recognition project. He also involved his parents and several troop members in this wonderful service project.
November
• AMPI signed a collaborative agreement with the Puerto Rico Food Bank to distribute 50 boxes of non-perishable food to senior citizens families in the Mayagüez area. This was to be done through the Zero Hunger Project and it will continue for several months.
• AMPI developed a second fundraising campaign. This through the sale of Los Reyes Magos mugs. The art was created by Miguel Nicolai, a native puerto rican artist from Cabo Rojo stationed in Sweden and Lauren Fullerton, a local writer presently living in Mexico who donated her story. After initial costs were covered, proceeds were donated to AMPI. AMPI was able to sell over 200 items. These funds will be used to cover some of the costs of caring for the residents of the homes that AMPI manages.
• AMPI also signed a collaborative agreement with the MCS Foundation to repair the homes of 30 aging families. The purpose of the program is to identify and correct hazards or adverse conditions that can induce falls within this elderly population.
December
• SOSPR, Inc. corporation in charge of making improvements in the homes of elderly families, completed 6 out of the 30 cases projected.
• Not a single case of COVID was recorded among AMPI’s staff, household staff, or AMPI’s residents or participants.
• In collaboration with WAL MART employees and, sponsored by United Way Puerto Rico, 500 “bags of hope” were assembled with basic necessities related to the COVID 19 Pandemic. They were distributed by AMPI personnel and volunteers to four elderly housing programs and to the participants of La Milagrosa Geriatric Center.
• One of La Casa de Junny residents was placed in competitive employment at Marshalls’ Mayaguez store.
As part of our services before closing for Christmas break, all our residents, personnel and volunteers were tested for COVID-19 as part of the protocol to prepare for vaccination during the month of January 2021.
It was a year of unbelievable service adventures for AMPI. Great challenges and even greater satisfaction was received for the work accomplished.
We thank all of you who make it possible for us to change the lives of our fellow citizens. Our sponsor, individual donors, AMPI staff and volunteers. Most of all we thank the Lord for making us a vehicle of help and the community that trusts our services.