The United Way of Puerto Rico’s Youth Chapters held a pre-Thanksgiving get-together Wednesday with the staff, residents and families of Old San Juan’s Casa Providencia’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation program for women.
As part of the festivities, youngsters from local schools dished up 20 turkeys, blood sausage and other holiday goodies that they shared with the residents — both former and current — their families and the Sisters of Order of Oblatas del Santísimo Redentor, who are the other live-in residents of the program.
Earlier in the day, members of The United Way’s Youth Chapters called, “You Are Important to Me” clubs for volunteers ages 13 to 21 also dished out about 70 turkey dinners to the homeless at Rafael Cordero Plaza in Santurce.
“We’ve been serving Thanksgiving dinners to the homeless for about 11 years, but this year we wanted to include another group of people who might enjoy our company,” said Xavier Rivera, president of Sacred Heart University’s You Are Important to Me Club.
“It’s not a matter of trying to control people, but rather guiding them and working together so that we all can be successful,” said Génesis Álvarez, another chapter president of You are Important to Me.
“This action demonstrates that there are still young people who want Puerto Rico to be a better society and this fills us with strength to continue forward,” said Yamilca, a participant in Casa Providencia’s program.
With a 75 percent success rate, Casa Providencia, which has been providing services to women for 40 years, is the most successful alcohol and treatment program in Puerto Rico, and among the top programs in the United States, Sister Adela Domínguez said.
Domínguez attributed the 12-month program’s success to its dealing with the biological, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of addiction. Under the program, residents receive individual and group therapy from social worker and psychiatrist as well as 24-hour spiritual support from the nuns at the convent where the program is located. Other key aspects of the program include focusing on forgiveness and family therapy.
“Many times people resort to drugs and alcohol in search of spirituality,” Domínguez said, adding that many programs do not address the spiritual void that causes many to fall into addiction.
During the first two months, families are allowed to visit residents, but residents aren’t allowed to visit families, so they can reflect on their lives. After the two months of contemplative time, residents can visit families for 12 hours, then 24 hours, and then a full weekend depending on their progress.
Domínguez said her order opted to treat women for addiction because it is in keeping with the reason why the Order of Oblatas del Santísimo Redentor was founded: to serve spiritual guidance to women who were forced into prostitution that other orders avoided. “That’s why our motto is ‘if all the doors are closed to you, I will open one for you.’”
“I want to invite the community of Old San Juan to come visit us, so they can see what we do and help support us,” Domínguez said.
“I believe in young leadership,” United Way of Puerto Rico President Samuel González said upon commending the youngsters on the activity, adding that about 522,000 people on the island donate their services to nonprofit community organizations each year.
“This work is equal to an investment of $433 million… What I want is for more people to be aware of all the volunteer work people in Puerto Rico do to make the island a better place to live,” González said.
United Way of Puerto Rico has 433 members and 17 youth chapters. Those interested in volunteering should call 787-728-8500, ext. 208.