The local non-profit organization Esperança is changing how it conducts business because of the Coronavirus pandemic, but still serving the poorest communities in Maricopa County and the world.
Ramón Gallardo, who survived a traumatic brain injury in 2016, now serves as non-profit organization Esperança’s gift in-kind coordinator. The organization is still helping people around the world, including distributing masks and hand sanitizer in the Valley, to help fight the Coronavirus pandemic (photo courtesy of Esperança).
This organization at 1911 W. Earll Drive has had to suspend its surgical missions and domestic program health classes temporarily in order to protect the health of its employees, volunteers and clients. However it has started offering its nutrition, oral health and other resources on its Spanish-language Facebook page, facebook.com/esperancacomunidad, and doing weekly mental health check-ins with 250 senior citizens in HUD housing around the Valley. The non-profit provides support and helps seniors connect with community resources.
Esperança also has been distributing hand sanitizer, masks and other items that might help in the battle against COVID-19 to those in the community that need these supplies.
Ramón Gallardo, who survived a traumatic brain injury and now serves as the organization’s gift in-kind coordinator, is happy to pay it forward to others.
“It feels good to continue to help in some way through this crisis,” Gallardo said.
Efforts to generate money for the organization also are continuing. The Hope Breakfast, Esperança’s signature annual fundraising event, will take place from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 7. The non-profit, with a name derived from the Portuguese word for “hope,” has been committed to transforming lives since 1970. It helps some of the poorest communities in Central America, South America and Africa, offering life-changing surgeries, health education, community development projects and other support. Esperança also serves under-resourced children, adults and senior citizens in Maricopa County through oral health, chronic disease prevention, disease management, nutrition and other programs.
To register for the virtual breakfast and learn more about the organization, visit esperanca.org.
