Friends of Nutre Hogar

Each year, Friends of Nutre Hogar sponsors a trip to an indigenous village in Panama.  We accompany a team of doctors, nurses, and social workers who evaluate the health needs of the children.  In addition to a medical check-up, families are given a hot meal, clothing, shoes, toys, and medicines.  Lastly, we deliver bags of staple foods such as rice, beans, flour, sugar, and cornmeal to nearby families.

Click on the image to see more photos from our giras and learn about the indigenous communities the Nutre Hogar children most often come from.

The building in Santiago is older and not ideally designed to house so many children.  Friends of Nutre Hogar has paid for numerous building improvements to make it more hospitable for the little residents who rely on its sanctuary.  These improvements have included a vent for the stove fumes, a new air conditioning unit, and a water tank to collect and filter rainwater for future use.

Over the course of many years, Friends of Nutre Hogar replaced all of the wooden nursery cribs with stainless steel cribs to avoid the effects of wood rot.

Friends of Nutre Hogar has purchased new appliances such as a washer, dryer, and refrigerators to improve the efficiency and ease of everyday tasks.

The body is severely impacted by malnutrition and often children are developmentally stunted by a lack of nutrients and strength.  This developmental handrail was installed to help children learn how to walk and build muscles in their legs and backs.

Click on the image to watch these little guys walk on their own for the first time!

In 2013, a group of volunteers spent days repainting all of the walls to brighten the space and better stimulate the children.

As a recuperation center, Nutre Hogar also provides medical and therapeutic services for the children, in addition to proper nutrition.  This tank and the included thermal compresses allow the Center to better treat the children.

Some years ago, Friends of Nure Hogar purchased a truck for the Santiago facility to use as transportation.  It has been tremendously helpful and, therefore, we are currently saving to buy a van that would allow the Center to more easily transport children to and from the hospital.

Rosita Gonzalez, a positive and upbeat young girl was born with a congenital hip defect called displaysia which also caused scoliosis.  She was unable to walk and required a series of surgeries as well as medications to aid her post-op rehabilitation.  In 2015, we were notified that Rosita had earned a spot at Shriners Children's Hospital in Shreveport.  While many of the medical expenses and lodging costs were covered by other donors, Friends of Nutre Hogar helped pay for airfare and her post-operation medications.  Rosita recovered well from the surgery but it was, unfortunately, unsuccessful.  She is scheduled to undergo more procedures once the transportation funds can be raised.