School Supplies: The Beginning of Everything

October 15, 2021 marked the official birth of Fundación Una Mano Amiga (now L&M Foundation). Without prior foundation experience, but with hearts full of love and a shared desire to help, Juan and Johanna completed their first project: delivering complete school supplies to 20-25 children in Agua de La Palma and Los Derramaderos, Montecristi.

This project was more than a simple delivery of backpacks, notebooks, and pencils. It was a revelation. For years, we sought happiness in material things - better jobs, vehicles, homes, vacations - but none of that made us truly happy, only momentarily.

Seeing the smiles of amazement and joy on the faces of each child and their parents was something that deeply impacted us. Children hugged their backpacks as if they were treasures. Parents, with tears in their eyes, repeated over and over: "May God bless you".

That day we understood that true happiness is not in material things, but in the smiles we create and the lives we touch. That moment of clarity drove us to continue, to do more projects, to dream bigger.

The success of this first project showed us that it was possible to make a difference. We didn't need to be rich or have experience. We only needed love, commitment, and the will to act.

This project planted the seed of who we are today. Every subsequent project, every life touched, every smile created - it all started here, in October 2021, with 20-25 backpacks and hearts full of hope.