PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For decades, nonprofit Esperanza has been dedicated to uplifting Philadelphia’s diverse Latinx communities. And now is a time when that kind of lifting up is needed, with Hispanic Heritage Month running through Oct. 15, and Puerto Rico, once again, rebuilding after a devastating hurricane.
When Hurricane Fiona blew through Puerto Rico last weekend, at least eight people were killed, and National Guard teams rescued dozens more. The slow-moving storm dropped as much as 30 inches of rain in some areas, washing out roads, leaving people stranded and entire communities isolated. Even now, hundreds of thousands of people across the island are still waiting for water and electrical service to be restored. And even after managing the emergencies, the island is expecting to feel severe economic repercussions for a long time.
Rev. Danny Cortés, Esperanza executive vice president and chief operating officer, says the organization’s connection to the island runs deep.
"We have 26 employees that live on the island of Puerto Rico, not to mention that we come out of the Puerto Rican community. The people who founded the organization were Puerto Rican,” Cortés said.
“So we have an attachment to the island. And when things like hurricanes hit the island, we're always apprehensive and hopeful for the best — but the reality is that that's not always the case."
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As part of Unidos Pa Puerto Rico, a coalition of about 40 nonprofit Latinx agencies, Esperanza is fundraising and providing resources to the people of the island. The easiest way to give is via text (by sending “PRFIONA2022” to 44321). And the coalition is also collecting donations at Sunday’s Puerto Rican Day Parade in Center City.
But Cortés said he encourages people to think about lifting up the community not only during Hispanic Heritage Month, but rather to “constantly be thinking about those who do not have the same levels of access and opportunity.”
Cortés says Esperanza has been helping the communities it serves find those opportunities for decades.
"Esperanza was created 30 years ago by clergy," he said. And the specific mission has always been “a commitment to trying to find ways to create opportunities — the things that are often taken for granted in other communities — that we struggle with."
Much of Esperanza’s work is focused on children. The nonprofit is affiliated with a few schools in the city, and it provides food to families in areas where there is often little or no access to healthy options.
"We have 1,000 children in our different schools, which we provide breakfast and lunch to,” Cortés said. “But in addition to that, we work on distributing fresh products and vegetables and things that are not always easily accessible."
He says it's about adding to the quality of life and building community.
"We service 30,000 people a year here, and all of it is about 'Where do you find yourself?' — whether it's education, building new housing — a community of opportunity."
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