Hands For Humanity

July 1st!
25 years ago today I returned to the US with Maya after almost seven months in Ecuador. Some time later, Hands For Humanity was formed.
I made a comment to my dear friend Gino this morning about how much we (All of us) have been able to accomplish in the past 25 years. And just as our tagline says " Extend a hand, enrich a life", it is definitely MY life that has been ENRICHED and forever changed!
I know it sounds like a cliche', but it truly such an honor to do the work we are doing!
It is the beautiful people I have met along the way that feeds my soul.
There is nothing more rewarding than having a volunteer tell me their experience in Ecuador has changed their life. Or running into a former nursing student and seeing them as a confident, caring, compassionate nurse. I will be for ever changed by the young children (and their parents) that we have been able to support here in Rochester that have been in need of surgery. And some of our former volunteers in Ecuador and in the US are now like family to me. I am beyond blessed!!
On that July 1st, 25 years ago, I was so happy to be home with our happy, healthy baby. I had no idea life had in store for us.
To each and everyone of you that our paths have crossed over the past years... thank you. I have learned so much from all of you, you all have certainly enriched my life!
And to Maya, I am grateful and so very proud to be your momma.
Happy anniversary to us!
~Kate

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“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact it is the only thing that ever has. “~ Margaret Mead

As our fundraiser comes to an end this evening, we want to remind you how grateful we are for all of you!

If you would like to donate before we end our fundraiser, please go to our page and view our “Pinned Post”

Thank you!

When we started our fundraiser for Hogar de Belen, we also reached out to schools & churches in Ecuador for their support & donation. With the help from Estefania Poggi de Cuka, her school Colegio Cruz del Norte Portoviejo responded to our request and started a food drive to help. It is amazing to see our youth taking part in changing someone’s life & helping HFH fufill our mission to help the children at the orphanage.

Since our fundraiser is ending on Monday, we will be matching donations, dollar for dollar until we hit $1,000.

Thank you to each and every one of you who has donated thus far. I know for some of you, this has to feel like putting a Band-Aid on a much larger problem, and you are right. But this is at no fault of the kids….So until a bigger and better solutions comes along, we will just continue to help where we can. No child should be denied basic necessities such as food, medical care, and education.
For the next 72 hours we are going to match donations, dollar for dollar, up to $1000.
Let’s raise another $2000 in the next 72 hours!!
Thank you~ Kate

Today, we start our fundraiser to help Hogar De Belen with their urgent financial crisis. Please share with family and friends!
Hogar de Belen has a minimum of 40 children at the orphanage at one time and have been struggling to make ends meet. Our fundraiser will end on June 3rd, 2024. Thank you!!

Our dear friend Noralma Andrade Bravo recently retired after working in the school system for over 35 years!! She has touched so many lives in Ecuador and in the states through Hands For Humanity. As a gift for all of her hard work, her family and friends in Ecuador, sent her on a trip to California and Minnesota! we were lucky enough to spend a few days with her and can’t wait to see what she does in her retired life. We love you Noralma!!! 

We are less than a week away from our fundraiser coming to a close. We thank everyone who has donated and raised awareness about Hogar de Belan urgent financial situation. We hope to raise $1,500 more to help the children get their nutrition, medical and schooling needs covered. With the help we have received so far, we are able to help all 40 children at the orphanage receive three meals a day for three days. Thank you!

Today, we start our fundraiser to help Hogar De Belen with their urgent financial crisis. Please share with family and friends!
Hogar de Belen has a minimum of 40 children at the orphanage at one time and have been struggling to make ends meet. Our fundraiser will end on June 3rd, 2024. Thank you!!

On a much, much lighter note…

Our sweet Victor received the good word that he can return home. 🥰

Victor hit a couple of obstacles while in Rochester and managed to overcome each hurdle. He was definitely victorious! 💪🏼

His mama stayed strong and stoic the entire time.

A huge, huge, huge, thank you to all the staff that took such amazing care of Victor and his mom. Each one of them gave 110% every day they came to work.

We are all forever grateful!

For those of you who traveled to Ecuador with us and stayed at the Hotel Executivo, you will remember Rene Wilson.

He was one of the servers in the restaurant, and later became the manager.

It is with such a heavy heart that I share with you that he was murdered today at the hotel. There is really no way to sugarcoat it.

Rene was one of the first people we would see when we returned to the hotel after a long day.

He was always so kind, helpful, and always looking out for our safety.

He will be missed by so many people. If you have a story about him, please share.

Today, we start our fundraiser to help Hogar De Belen with their urgent financial crisis. Please share with family and friends!
Hogar de Belen has a minimum of 40 children at the orphanage at one time and have been struggling to make ends meet. Our fundraiser will end on June 3rd, 2024. Thank you!!

Our fundraiser for Hogar de Belen starts tomorrow.

This is where donations are needed:

First, there are medical costs, we have to keep these little ones healthy.

Second, groceries are always in need. We will be supplying them with food from local stores to help support the community. A win- win.

And last, but not least, education. School started this week, there is always a need for school supplies, uniforms, and school shoes.

On Friday, we will be starting our fundraiser to help Hogar De Belen with their financial crisis. If you would like to learn more on what is happening in Ecuador & why places like Hogar de Belen are struggling, please read this article

What is happening in Ecuador? Ecuadoreans go to the polls this Sunday to vote in a referendum put forward by President Daniel Noboa, who has asked voters to approve measures to tackle spiraling violence.

In recent months, Ecuador has entered in a financial crisis underpinned by one the worst public safety and security issues in its history. Criminal violence, citizen insecurity and drug trafficking have increased rapidly in the country, to the point of making Ecuador the country with the greatest increased in violent deaths in Latin America in 2023-24.

This past April, voters took to the polls in Ecuador to approve new laws that their President, President Daniel Nobea wishes to put in place to protect the country. The goal for these new laws is to lower the gang violence, which has plagued Ecuador in recent months.

Unfortunately, we feel the situation will get worse before we see improvements. Because of all of this, the communities have and will continue to suffer – especially the most vulnerable such as Hogar de Belen, our little orphanage in Ecuador.

Hands For Humanity has been working alongside the orphanage for close to 20 years and they are in desperate need of our immediate assistance for basic necessities. Those necessities include food, medical supplies and educational needs. We will be starting a fundraiser to specifically help the orphanage get back on their feet starting this friday.

More details to come.

Our own little superhero Victor got to hang out with a couple of cool dudes today! 🦸‍♂️

Our Victor continues to improve each day! 🥰
A huge thank you to each and everyone of you that have been praying and sending your good energy our way. 💕💕💕

This is our little man Victor on the day of surgery on 26th of February. He passed a big hurdle today and continues to move forward. Continue to send those prayers and good energy his way. Victor and his mama are two of the strongest people I know! 🥰

Our sweet little man continues to make progress. Let’s continue to send him and his mom prayers and good energy!! 

Do we have a future nurse on our hands? Kristin went home and practiced some of the skills she had learned in the hospital on her dad. 🥰🥰🥰

Kristin is back home in Belize! Thank you everyone who assisted her and her mom. Thank you to you that sent prayers! ❤️❤️❤️

Our little man Victor continues to rest comfortably while his heart is on the mend. He loves holding mom’s hand and hearing her sing.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

This strong, brave young man goes in for his second procedure tomorrow. Let’s send a ton of good energy and prayers his way. 

Jahir will have his surgery on Monday! Please send him well wishes & keep him & his family in your thoughts!

Our sweet girl, Kristin just got out of surgery & is doing really well. Thank you for all the prayers & warm thoughts that were sent to her!

Update with our kiddos from Belize.
They arrived safely Saturday evening and one of our volunteers met them at the airport then drove them to Rochester. They are currently getting use to the snow, their clinic schedules & their temporary home at Ronald McDonald.

Thank you everyone who is volunteering to help make their time more comfortable & enjoyable!

We are grateful to be apart of this!

As we continue our partnership with the Gift of Life Belize, we wanted to share our next family who is receiving support from Hands for Humanity. In a few weeks this brave little girl will be hopping on a plane & traveling to Rochester, MN where she will have heart surgery performed at Mayo Clinic.

As we prepare for her arrival, we would like to request the help of volunteers for her upcoming appointments. If you are interested in volunteering please reach out to Kate Welp or send us an email at [email protected]

As you have probably heard in the news, Ecuador is in crisis mode. A high profile drug cartel member escaped from prison over the weekend with the intent to cause chaos and fear throughout the entire country of Ecuador. Their President issued a state of emergency. Kids are staying home from school, businesses are closed and strict curfews have been put into place.

We would like to ask everyone to keep our friends, children constituents, & those who lost their lives to the cartel in your thoughts and prayers during this very turbulent time.

Hello, my name is Maya Harvey, and I am thrilled to be the newest board member to Hands For Humanity.

As many of you know, my mother is Kate Welp and I have been watching her for years as she made her path to help serve communities in Ecuador. It has been a privilege to volunteer when I could, now I'm very excited to have a more of a permanent role working by my mom's side. As the photo will show you, I've been preparing for this day since I was a little girl.

I am currently living in Tennessee with my husband Logan , my dog and cat. I recently started my own business in Event Planning. I get to dance and eat really good food almost every weekend, who wouldn't love that! 🥰

I am looking forward to creating an amazing social media atmosphere on our platforms, and also getting to know more of our donors and volunteers.