In September 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm. The coastal town of Yabucoa was among the first and hardest hit. Homes were destroyed. Infrastructure collapsed. Families endured months without reliable electricity, clean water, and stable income.
As the holiday season approached, recovery was still ongoing.
When we connected with the local church community in Yabucoa, they shared something powerful with us:
Basic survival supplies had been arriving. Food, water, and emergency aid were being distributed.
But it was the children who were struggling most.
Parents had lost jobs. Homes were damaged. Daily life had been completely disrupted. What the children needed wasn’t just survival — they needed normalcy. They needed something joyful. They needed to feel like kids again.
That is where our Holiday Project began.
A Different Kind of Holiday Gift
Instead of sending traditional corporate holiday baskets, we redirected our entire holiday budget toward families in Yabucoa.
We personally:
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- Purchased every gift
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- Wrapped each one by hand
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- Arranged and paid for all shipping and logistics
Our clients did not need to donate funds or coordinate delivery.
We asked for just one thing:
Write a heartfelt letter to the family receiving the gift.
Those letters — filled with encouragement, kindness, and hope; were printed and carefully attached to each wrapped package before shipment.
Each child didn’t just receive a toy.
They received a message.
A reminder that someone cared.
Restoring Joy in a Year of Hardship
The church leaders made it clear: while survival needs were being met, emotional recovery was just as important.
Children had endured fear, instability, and months of uncertainty. The loss of routine and security can deeply affect a child’s mental health. The holidays, normally a season of excitement and tradition, risked becoming another reminder of loss.
Our goal was simple:
Bring back a moment of childhood.
A wrapped present under the tree.
A letter addressed just to them.
A small but powerful reminder that joy still existed.
The Impact
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- Children received meaningful holiday gifts during a year of recovery
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- Families received personal messages of encouragement
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- Parents were reminded that their community extended far beyond the island
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- Our clients participated in something deeply human and personal
By handling the cost, wrapping, and logistics ourselves, we removed every barrier to participation and allowed connection to be the focus.
A Season of Hope
The resilience of Yabucoa continues to inspire us. What we learned there reshaped how we approach the holidays: meeting physical needs is critical, but nurturing hope is just as essential.
Our Holiday Project in Yabucoa was not just about delivering gifts.
It was about restoring dignity.
It was about protecting childhood.
It was about turning a season of hardship into a season of hope.
