Our Motivation
Heart of Assistance has a special task, and—in the cities we operate—meets a critical need. More than 17,000 Families in Puerto Rico with children 12 years old and younger live in homeless or low-income situations. In any given year, more than 20,000 children in our local community will experience homelessness. Meanwhile, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 130,000 children, live
in poverty. The Census numbers show that nearly 1.673 million Puerto Rico island residents were living below the federal poverty line last year, up from roughly 1.659 million in 2010. The poverty rate in Puerto Rico remained far ahead of the poorest state, Mississippi, where 22.6 percent of the population was below the poverty line in 2011. But statistics don’t get to the heart of what we do. We help kids in poverty: kids who don’t have shoes that fit, or a coat warm enough to fend off winter winds, food or a backpack to take their books and supplies to and from school. Mothers who are being abused in front of their children daily, parents who need guidance, where to get the help and how. When kids don’t have these basics, they suffer. They have a hard time learning in school and responding to the daily tasks . They don’t feel valued. Kids
The Mission
Heart Of Assistance provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive - at home, at school and at play. We supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need. The Model
Heart Of Assistance collects donations through grassroots community drives and corporate donations. Donations are then processed our case workers, and are distributed to disadvantaged families across the state through a collaborative network of social service agencies, volunteers and school partners.
