Pina Palmera is an organization that provides support to members of its community, regardless of ability. They seek out individuals with disabilities and create adaptations, enabling greater independence. They provide support to families who are having a difficult time accepting their differently-abled family members. They offer low cost doctor's visits every week. They help find employment for people with disabilities, either within their community or at their workshop. They host camps. They offer limited long-term housing for adults with disabilities who were surrendered to their care in the 80s. They do SO MUCH STUFF that I can't even remember it all.
We came to visit Pina Palmera and were readily obliged when we asked to tour the facility. It's amazing. Volunteers and residents blanket the grounds with workshops, creating beautiful bird mobiles, coconut oil, recycled paper notebooks, and other items to sell in their workshops. We met long term residents who were very welcoming to us. We observed a participant creating recycled paper using adaptive equipment created especially for him by volunteers at Pina Palmera.
Our tour guide, Federica, was Italian and spoke limited English but did a fantastic job conveying the importance of the work done by Pina Palmera. I'm so glad we went and am still humbled by the hospitality with which we were met. read more