Unleashing Solidarity to transform communities!                                                       
Helping his neighbors that need it the most. 
Every week Orlando Cortés, a committed layman, was running a Solidarity Dining Room (Soup Kitchen) “Fr. Manuel Pino” at María Madre de los Pobres Chapel/José María Caro, Lo Espejo-Santiago where he used to prepare and serve around 70 free meals, bread and snacks to people facing poverty and social exclusion, most his users are Seniors living on the streets.

This initiative was launched through “Acción Solidaria” program from Hogar de Cristo whose mission is to share our permanent cause calling citizens to unleash solidarity, wherever we are, to take concrete actions or entrepreneurship to impact and transform their communities, specially those more disadvantaged.

The Solidarity Dining Room was collecting contributions of money and food from parishioners. However, sanitary lockdown measures in Santiago restricting gathering and social contact put everything on hold and Dining room had to close.

Orlando never gives up, but he is worried about the future and is not sure whether he will have enough resources to continue providing more such community meals. He is now experiencing an increase in demand for hot meals, consequence of accelerated growth of unemployment rates in neighborhoods already facing poverty before the pandemic. For the time being, he is spending own resources preparing food, cooking a huge pot in his parents’ kitchen, and then personally he makes home deliveries to neighbors in need. To donate or help to Orlando’s cause, call him to +56 9 5839 7361 (Chile).

Support one our causes to continue transforming lives. Become a donor clicking here DONATE HERE