Futuro Brillante

COVID 19 RELIEF EXPENSES: 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. WE IDENTIFY LOCAL FAMILIES IN NEED AND DELIVER FOOD DIRECTLY TO THEIR HOMES. WE HAVE SERVED MORE THAN 700 FAMILIES DURING THE PAST YEAR. DONATIONS HAVE INCLUDED DRY STAPLE GOODS (LIKE RICE, BEANS, OIL, PASTA, COFFEE, ETC.), CHICKEN AND OTHER PROTEINS, EGGS, AND FRESH VEGETABLES. WE ALSO DONATED CLEANING PRODUCTS AND PERSONAL CARE ITEMS.

Expenses: $53K

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. WHILE THE GARDEN WAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO THE PANDEMIC DURING THE MAJORITY OF 2020, PRODUCTS FROM THE GARDEN WERE DONATED TO MANY FAMILIES IN OUR FOOD RELIEF PROGRAM. ANOTHER MAJOR NEW PROJECT IN 2020 WAS 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.

Expenses: $21K

EXERCISE: FUTURO BRILLANTE HAS OFFERED FREE ZUMBA CLASSES TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND TO MAKE EXERCISE MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, WE CANCELED OUR IN-PERSON CLASSES, BUT WE CONTINUED CLASSES ONLINE IN AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE EXERCISE, MENTAL HEALTH AND INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANTS.

Expenses: $7K

TEXTBOOKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES: THANKS TO A LOCAL DONOR WE WERE ABLE TO BUY TEXTBOOKS FOR MORE THAN 220 STUDENTS AT THE MATAPALO SCHOOL (BOOKS ARE NOT PROVIDED BY COSTA RICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS) AS WELL AS PURCHASE MORE THAN 100 SCHOOL SUPPLY PACKS AND BACKPACKS.

Expenses: $5K