AMIGA

AMIGA is A Mission In God’s Amor (Love)
dedicated to delivering basic health care, preventative health education, and most importantly HOPE
to our brothers and sisters in Honduras living in circumstances of profound and dire need,
who in return share a treasure of insight and wisdom back.

Born of their committed spirit and passion, AMIGA was founded in 2006 by Doctor Helen Kornblum and Sister Raquel Ortez. Their vision was to provide medical brigades to serve the poor in Honduras, and be one of the only brigades that would also distribute medicines and vitamins at no cost. Many of the poor in Honduras have never visited a medical professional, and if they have, they cannot afford the medicine prescribed. Facing the logistical challenges of shipping medicine to Honduras, Doctor Kornblum approached her uncle, Deacon Ed Courtney, who at the time was an active Deacon at OLPH. AMIGA was soon created at OLPH to organize and finance an annual shipment to Honduras. Given that this would be done via a 40’ oceangoing container, the ministry began collecting clothes and medical supplies to fill the space. Over 15 years of existence, AMIGA at OLPH has since grown to where each annual shipment contains medicines, vitamins, hygienic supplies, medical supplies including nebulizers, school supplies, school uniforms, clothes, shoes, sewing material and machines, mobility carts for those who have lost the use of their legs, wheelchairs, prayer shawls and many other items that go to directly to support operations during brigades. We have even shipped hospital beds. Most recently, we have begun focusing on linens, towels and blankets as a result of the devastation caused by hurricane flooding in the fall of 2020 during which many people lost everything they had. AMIGA uses and distributes all of this during semi-annual medical brigade missions during which 15 to 20 medical providers and support volunteers travel to Honduras for 10 – 14 days and hold daily clinics. Each brigade mission will see 1000 to 1500 people of all ages, leaving each of them with 30, 60, or 90 day supplies of vitamins. Many other medicines such as blood pressure and parasite control are distributed as necessary. Nine month supplies of prenatal vitamins are distributed to pregnant women and mothers of newborns, and a particular focus is distributing childrens multivitamins.

At OLPH, the ministry collects, sorts, packs and loads all of these donations all year long to be shipped annually.  We hold monthly work sessions to do so, as well as monthly meetings that we invite anyone to attend. Shipment is our BIG DAY at OLPH, as we load and send off 10 tons of HOPE to the beautiful people of Honduras.

Donations can be dropped off at the pastoral center. Our main focus is always over the counter medicines and vitamins. Expiration dates are critical and are publicized in our parish bulletins. Generally they are always at least one year in the future, depending on the timing of the shipment. We accept all medical equipment in good shape like crutches, canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. We accept summer lightweight clothing in good repair no larger than XL, and shoes that are clean and in good repair. Reading glasses, school supplies, linen, towels, and blankets are welcome.

There are many ways to get involved: donate, get on our email roster, join us at monthly work sessions, take on a specific aspect of what we collect (processing shoes for example), helping out on shipment day, leadership roles, and, finally, traveling to Honduras to be part of a brigade.  Many of our volunteers are long standing members, and have traveled on brigades: testimony to how beautiful and uplifting AMIGA is in service to the loving people of Honduras.


Please inquire at the pastoral center or see a bulletin for up to date contact information. More information can be found at https://www.hondurasamiga.org/.

AMIGA: bringing HOPE to those in need in Honduras.