Holiday drive boosts aid for Puerto Rico’s unhoused residents
Iniciativa Comunitaria has launched its annual “Alimenta un Alma esta Navidad” campaign, renewing its holiday appeal for community support as the nonprofit expands services for people experiencing homelessness across Puerto Rico.
The seasonal fundraiser aims to mobilize resources to provide meals, clothing, essential items and health support throughout December. The organization, which has worked in vulnerable communities for more than three decades, said the campaign focuses on delivering practical aid while reinforcing dignity.
“Every plate of food, every piece of clothing, and every act of solidarity is a reminder that every life matters,” said Yorelys Rivera, executive director of Iniciativa Comunitaria. She added that the initiative is “not only about feeding bodies, but also nourishing souls that long for, and deserve dignity.”
A new element this year is the Mobile Shower Unit, a vehicle equipped with two private shower stalls and accessibility accommodations for wheelchair users. The unit brings basic hygiene to people who lack access, expanding the nonprofit’s street-focused programs.
The mobile service visits areas with high concentrations of people living without shelter and is paired with meal distribution, clothing donations, syringe exchange, HIV testing, wound care and case management. The organization said the model strengthens engagement by linking participants to treatment options and other comprehensive services while addressing immediate needs.
Community members can contribute through the ATH Móvil app under the “Donate” tab at /IniciativaComunitaria or by visiting iniciativacomunitaria.org. Rivera said small contributions help sustain essential services during a peak period of need.
“This Christmas, every contribution has the power to transform a life,” she said, urging the public to help “bring nourishment, and a chance to start anew to those who need it most.”
