Title: A Day of Service Transforms School in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Summary of the AFT Day of Service in Puerto Rico
This article details a Day of Service event organized by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in Puerto Rico, held during the SOMOS 2025 conference. The event focused on supporting dr. Julio J. Henna Elementary School in San Juan, a school serving a community where 98% of students live below the poverty level.
Key Highlights:
* Donations to the School: Over 2,000 books, 200 Lego sets, 200 backpacks, 200 hygiene packs, 250 bags of food, and other educational resources where provided to the school.
* Financial Donation to El Comedor de la Kennedy: A $5,000 donation was made to this non-profit association which provides meals to thousands of children and seniors across Puerto Rico.
* Focus on Literacy & Community Engagement: The event was part of the AFT’s “Reading Opens the World” campaign, a multi-year literacy initiative.
* Collaboration: The event was a collaborative effort involving the AFT,its affiliates,new York City Public Schools,Puerto Rican officials,unions (including the Seafarers International Union),TOTE Maritime Agency Puerto Rico,and SOMOS,Inc.
* Message of Hope: Leaders emphasized the importance of investing in education and communities, and providing hope for a better future for Puerto Rican students.
* El Comedor de la Kennedy’s Impact: The organization provides approximately 2,000 meals to children and 3,500 to seniors weekly, and distributes 3.5 million pounds of food monthly.
the day of Service represents a notable effort to support education and address food insecurity in Puerto Rico, demonstrating a commitment to community well-being and the power of collective action.