Operation Compassion Nighttime Street Rounds

Operation Compassion

Established in 2003, this program is made up of volunteers who deliver food, medical care and prevention kits to the homeless by doing nighttime and weekend street rounds in the Metro area (Río Piedras, Hato Rey, Santurce, Carolina and Condado).

Operation Compassion uses critical pedagogy and a solidarity service framework to respond respectably to the unique needs of the homeless in Puerto Rico.

Services brought to participants include:

  • Education (health, care and treatment services, etc.)
  • Cleaning of ulcerated areas and dressing changes
  • Medical attention
  • Prevention kits (condoms, etc.)
  • Case management and referrals
  • Food provision (coffee, sandwiches, soups, etc.)
  • Basic needs items provision (hygiene, etc.)
  • Some medicines and (vitamin) supplements
  • MOST IMPORTANT SERVICE OF ALL… listening, have a good talk

One of the most important effects has been that the program has inspired the creation of many other street medicine groups with different service routes around the island. Among them we find:

  • Urban Medicine – known as Medicina Urbana in Spanish – created by volunteers of the Central University of the Caribbean
  • Nighttime Street Rounds of the North – known as Ronderos del Norte in Spanish –covers the northern towns of Manatí, Arecibo, and Vega Baja
  • From the Campus to the Streets – known as Recinto Pa’ la Calle in Spanish – lead by volunteers of the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus
  • Healing for the Neighborhood – known as Curitas Pa’l Barrio in Spanish – created by volunteers from the John the Baptist School of Medicine
  • Nighttime Street Rounds of the Mountain – known as Ronderos de la Montaña in Spanish – cover mountain town of Cayey in central Puerto Rico
  • Operation Compassion: Nighttime Street Rounds of the West – known as Rondas Nocturnas del Oeste in Spanish – cover the town of Mayaguez.

Our Volunteers

This volunteer-run program operates with hundreds of individuals who work in solidarity with the needs of our homeless brothers and sisters.  Each street round requires prep work, food and medical care material provision, as well as organization and cleaning of equipment used during the round. To learn more about Operation Compassion volunteering opportunities, write to oc@iniciativacomunitaria.org.

¿Are you going to volunteer with Operation Compassion today?
Then, fill out this short form:

Volunteers Form