Our Beginnings & Mission
Micky Enright founded Place of Hope, over 10 years ago, in Cotacachi, Ecuador, to address the nutritional and health needs of the city’s poor and neglected indigenous elders. Since its founding, the program has provided over 150,000 meals and become an integral part of life for hundreds of local residents who, in many cases, have little or no other source of food or medical attention.
Our mission is to continue providing nutritional meals to our under privileged indigenous elders. We strive to further build relationships with the surrounding indigenous communities and local government.
And…
We receive valuable corporate support from JetBlue Airlines, which donates round-trip tickets from Ecuador to any destination they fly to.
Tickets are raffled as an important additional source of contributions. The airport Staff from Quito have also periodically driven to Cotacachi with a van full of other donations (non-perishable food, blankets, clothes, canes, walkers, strollers, etc.) that have been sold (proceeds going to the purchase of food) or used by our indigenous neighbors.
We receive donations from individual fundraisers organized by our local volunteers as well.
Our Progress
By providing over 15,000 meals a year, our program has become well-known in Cotacachi for its respectful and affectionate attention to the elders, and is highly appreciated by local organizations, communities and barrios.
Our traditional model of sit-down breakfast had to be suspended in March 2020, in compliance with local municipal prohibitions of social gatherings and under a legal mandate from the Presidents of the local community and Barrio San Jose, out of shared concern that the gatherings would increase risk of viral contagion for the vulnerable elders.
As in most other countries, COVID cases have continued to expand steadily in Ecuador, despite recommended precautions; so for the foreseeable future, we will have to invent new ways of helping our many neighbors who are suffering from simultaneous shortages of jobs, money, and food. With the official ending of the national state of emergency in Ecuador on September 15th, we are now able to resume providing some food assistance at our kitchen site, but on a reduced scale, owing to declines in donations.
How We Have Served the Community
As well as providing nutritious breakfasts Monday through Friday, year-round, Place of Hope has also provided:
- Take-out sandwiches every Friday, so people will have something to eat on Saturday (donated)
- Vitamin supplements and non-prescription medications (donated)
- Assistive devices such as canes, eyeglasses and walkers (donated)
Wichana Foundation Alliance
Place of Hope continues our formal alliance with Wichana Foundation, which serves as our fiscal sponsor organization in the United States. Donations made to Place of Hope through Wichana will be tax-deductible for US individuals and corporations, which has expand our donor base and created greater income stability for the program. If tax-deductibility would be a benefit for you, please visit the Wichana website by clicking here, and make your donation via PayPal, debit or credit card. If you’d like to learn more about the Wichana Foundation and all of their partner programs, please click here.
Peter Bernstein, President of the Wichana Foundation, and friends
100% of your donation goes to feeding & supporting the forgotten Elders in Cotacachi, Ecuador
A Nourishing Meal for Everyone
Our History
Please help us with your Continuing Donations…
Your generosity is vital to our continued success. Please consider making a donation today, knowing all proceeds go directly into the operation of the program with NO administration fees.