Futuro Brillante

FOOD RELIEF FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY: WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT IN MARCH 2020, APPROXIMATELY 80% OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY LOST THEIR JOBS IN TOURISM. AS A RESULT, MANY FAMILIES WERE FACING A SEVERE ECONOMIC CRISIS. IN RESPONSE, FUTURO BRILLANTE CREATED AN EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF PROGRAM STARTING IN MARCH 2020, WHICH IS STILL OPERATING TODAY. WHILE THE ECONOMY HAS IMPROVED OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS, MANY LOCAL FAMILIES STILL STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.WE IDENTIFY LOCAL FAMILIES IN NEED AND DELIVER FOOD DIRECTLY TO THEIR HOMES. DONATIONS HAVE INCLUDED DRY STAPLE GOODS (LIKE RICE, BEANS, OIL, PASTA, COFFEE, ETC.), CHICKEN AND OTHER PROTEINS, EGGS, AND FRESH VEGETABLES. WE ALSO DONATE CLEANING PRODUCTS AND PERSONAL CARE ITEMS. WE CURRENTLY SUPPORT 60 FAMILIES ONCE A MONTH.

ORGANIC, COMMUNITY GARDEN & OTHER AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS: THE MATAPALO COMMUNITY GARDEN HAS BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2018. THE OBJECTIVE OF GARDEN IS TO TEACH LOCAL RESIDENTS SUSTAINABLE GARDENING TECHNIQUES AND TO GIVE THEM ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. IN THE YEAR 2020 WE LAUNCHED OUR EGG PROGRAM. WE BUILT A CHICKEN COOP AND PURCHASED 200 EGG LAYING HENS, WHICH PRODUCE 200 EGGS DAILY. THE EGGS HAVE BEEN A KEY PART OF OUR FOOD RELIEF PROGRAM AS WELL.

ROOF REPAIRS: WE LAUNCHED A PROGRAM IN 2020 TO REPAIR LEAKY ROOFS FOR LOCAL FAMILIES. DUE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM IN YEAR 1, WE HELD A SECOND CAMPAIGN IN 2021 WHICH FIXED THE ROOFS OF MORE THAN 30 LOCAL FAMILIES.

ARTISAN MARKET (FERIA): IN 2021, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MUNICIPALITY OF SANTA CRUZ, FUTURO BRILLANTE LAUNCHED THE MATAPALO FERIA PROGRAM. LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, RANGING FROM ARTISANS, FOOD VENDORS, CLOTHING SALES, AND MUCH MORE, SELL THEIR PRODUCTS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND TOURISTS ONCE A WEEK IN THE TOWN SQUARE. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO HELP WITH ECONOMIC REACTIVATION AFTER THE PANDEMIC.