Category: Community Support

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Happy Mother’s Day

Caring for Mothers around the World

May 13, 2018

Danielle Etter

Precious and Difficult

Finding the Balance in Motherhood

Before the sun has a chance to rise, children around the world are climbing onto their sleeping mothers’ backs, pulling their hair, and begging for breakfast. That is, of course, if these mothers have not already been up for an hour or two catching up on chores or nursing an infant who has yet to understand the difference between night and day. Such moments of motherhood, both sweet and exhausting, precious and difficult, exemplify the whole of the experience—the balance. Motherhood is full of contradicting experiences…

Categories: Community Support Malnutrition Eradication mHealth Programs Refugee Support Vocational Training or View All

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After Hurricane Maria

Vega Baja Shelter in Puerto Rico

October 20, 2017 - Puerto Rico

Makeshift shelters are crowded with families who have lost all that they own. With occupants ranging from 1 month to 103 years old, doctors attempt to make routine rounds to check on the people living there. RMF has sent a team to bring some initial medical supplies, as well as analyze the situation and form local partnerships. To learn more about RMF’s proposed program, read more on our initiative page.

RMF’s team visits a second shelter, this one in Vega Baja, with 144 people. This man lost everything in the storm.

…

Categories: Community Support Disaster Relief Puerto Rico Voices from the Field or View All

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After Hurricane Maria

Diagnostic & Treatment Center in Puerto Rico

October 19, 2017 - Puerto Rico

In addition to complete power loss, medical supply stockpiles are depleted. Medical providers are desperate for help. RMF has sent a team to bring some initial medical supplies, as well as analyze the situation and form local partnerships. To learn more about RMF’s proposed program, read more on our initiative page.

A house crushed by a downed power line in Vega Baja. Destruction like this is everywhere in Puerto Rico.

Another tree that took out a power line

Entrance to Dr. Rodriguez’s clinic. The roof was…

Categories: Community Support Disaster Relief Puerto Rico Voices from the Field or View All

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After Hurricane Maria

Town of Morovis, Puerto Rico

October 18, 2017 - Puerto Rico

Four weeks after Hurricane Maria made landfall, families are still living in shelters that have been set up in public schools. So many families have lost all that they own and have nowhere else to go. RMF has sent a team to bring some initial medical supplies, as well as analyze the situation and form local partnerships. To learn more about RMF’s proposed program, read more on our initiative page.

Meet Dr. Rodriguez, our contact in the town of Morovis. RMF’s Edwin knows him through family. He gladly shows us around.

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Categories: Community Support Disaster Relief Puerto Rico Voices from the Field or View All

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After Hurricane Maria

Town of Ciales, Puerto Rico

October 16, 2017 - Puerto Rico

Much of the incoming aid has been concentrated in the capital of San Juan, which means rural towns and communities, like Ciales, are more vulnerable. RMF has sent a team to bring some initial medical supplies, as well as analyze the situation and form local partnerships. To learn more about RMF’s proposed program, read more on our initiative page.

A monument high on a hilltop, overlooking the valley and town of Ciales (to the right)

Valley of Ciales

A Puerto Rican Flag waves as a…

Categories: Community Support Disaster Relief Puerto Rico Voices from the Field or View All

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After Hurricane Maria

Emergency Medical Center in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico

October 14, 2017 - Puerto Rico

Emergency rooms like Dr. Arthur’s are using the few supplies they have to keep their doors open to those who desperately need medical services. RMF has sent a team to bring some initial medical supplies, as well as analyze the situation and form local partnerships. To learn more about RMF’s proposed program, read more on our initiative page.

Exterior view of the second emergency room. There are large downed trees everywhere here. Fortunately, this one did not land on the building.

Meet Dr. Arthur. He works at the second emergency…

Categories: Community Support Disaster Relief Puerto Rico Voices from the Field or View All

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After Hurricane Maria

Emergency Medical Center, Vega Alta, Puerto Rico

October 13, 2017 - Puerto Rico

With no electricity, the clinics and emergency rooms operate strictly on backup generator power. Medical providers like Dr. Rivera are in urgent need of help. RMF has sent a team to bring some initial medical supplies, as well as analyze the situation and form local partnerships. To learn more about RMF’s proposed program, read more on our initiative page.

RMF’s team gathered 250 lb. of basic medications and supplies in Miami, en route to San Juan.

Meet Dr. Emilio Rivera, our first contact in Vega Alta. He runs 5…

Categories: Community Support Disaster Relief Puerto Rico Voices from the Field or View All

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Everything is Connected.

Everyone Plays a Part.

July 31, 2016 - Kenya

Danielle Etter

It’s no secret that the modern United States is lacking in its sense of community. Gone are the days of block parties, neighbors visiting on the front porch, and families helping to raise one another’s children. We’ve replaced this with the isolated new mother getting a handle on things alone in her home with only Google to help her and with neighbors hiding out, curtains drawn, preferring virtual community to flesh and blood.

We live in isolation. And we venerate the independent. It’s almost a cliché at this point.

Or so I thought.

…

Categories: Community Support Kenya Whole Health or View All

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A New Perspective on a Simple Thing

Can a Sewing Machine Change a Life?

July 04, 2016

JL Wright

Something Simple

A Big Impact

If you had asked yesterday what a sewing machine was to me, I would’ve told you that mine was a birthday gift from my husband, stored now in the recesses of my closet as my life is filled to the brim with taking care of my two baby boys. I would’ve said it was something I would take out from time to time to mend a seam, sew a bag, or stitch a headband.

But that was yesterday.

That was before I started reading about how things so trivial to…

Categories: Community Support Refugee Support Uganda Vocational Training or View All

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