In the Beginning: Some of our initial charity efforts

The creation of the Greenhouses of Love (Viveros de Amor) Foundation has been a lifelong dream. Born in El Paraíso, sisters Alda and Reina came to the United States in the early 90s and made Kentucky their home.

In 2017, inspired by the love of service and culinary skills of their late mom, Monchita, they opened Mami Monchita’s, a Honduran restaurant in Frankfort, Kentucky. The restaurant’s goal was to bring Honduran cuisine to Frankfort while helping their community of El Paraíso by designating 10% of the profits of the restaurant to the work of the foundation (which had not yet attained 501(c)(3) status). Prior to this, most of the funds were personal contributions that funded small projects such as Christmas dinners for underprivileged families and gifts for the children; annual school supplies for needy children; mattresses for several people with medical conditions; a tortilla maker for a local woman to generate income for her family; etc.

• To create facilities where families and children can gather during the day to receive life coaching services and guidance, including family relations, social and personal behavior, spiritual guidance, etc.
• To provide healthy meals to children to ensure their physical and intellectual readiness for learning.
• To provide academic instruction and tutoring to reinforce learning and enhance their chances for educational achievement and success.
• To provide school fees, supplies, uniforms, and all related school expenses necessary for achieving their educational goals and potential.
• To provide opportunities for children to engage in recreational, competitive and overall developmental activities.
• To provide opportunities for children to participate in artistic activities, including music, painting, and all artistic expressions to contribute to their holistic development.
• To support organizations that have common goals of community development and achievement to carry out their mission.

• Purchase land in El Paraíso to build a community center and a sports facility.
• Utilize the community center as the hub for providing meals, tutoring and spiritual guidance.
• Involve parents and other volunteers in the preparation of meals for the children, leading the tutoring sessions, and providing other programs such as arts and music.
• Purchase a van or small bus to provide transportation to and from the community center.
• Build a sports facility to introduce sports and organize sports leagues for the local children and schools. Most children in the community currently miss out on the benefits of being a part of a sports team due to lack of availability and resources. Sports teaches leadership, teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship and provides a sense of purpose and direction. We want children to reap the benefits of organized sports.

Children need hope. Children need opportunity. They need to be able to dream and to see the possibilities beyond their circumstances. This way, they will overcome their limitations and will finally break their family’s cycle of poverty.

We must start now….and we need your help.