Encourage Puerto Rico honors God by spreading hope and working together with the wonderful, resilient people of Puerto Rico.
Our helpful volunteers do many community projects: we run summer camps for kids, feed children and adults, help at food banks, organize support groups for families touched by autism, and aid in fixing and building local churches. We also support families and individuals in need, and we partner with likeminded nonprofits.
Generous volunteers who share their time and money make our mission of spreading encouragement possible.
We believe even small acts of help can make a big difference. We can’t solve everything, but living a sacrificial life is worth it.
To us, that means teaching and caring for children, feeding the hungry, supporting people affected by autism, helping with church repairs, and honoring God through all these actions.
We believe everyone has the chance to make a positive difference, and through Encourage Puerto Rico, we aim to share our blessings and bring hope to the heart of these communities.
Hi, I’m Kendra 👋
I’m a mom, wife, teacher, and servant of God from Robinson, IL.
I have always dreamed of working to help others while bringing glory to God. Through my 20s, 30s, and 40s, this dream took shape through adopting four wonderful kids, teaching Sunday School, and teaching at schools where I could help students facing big challenges.
As life’s circumstances have evolved, a new door opened. With our youngest child graduating college and my husband willing to work extra jobs, I was able to dedicate summers and school breaks to mission work. Initially drawn to a mission in Juarez, Mexico, God redirected me to Puerto Rico — a place that resonated with a higher calling.
After learning about the hard times faced by people in Puerto Rico due to earthquakes, hurricanes, school closures, and the pandemic, I felt a strong need to help. So, I started Encourage Puerto Rico.
During a visit over spring break, I met with local pastors and understood their need for more volunteers to help in their communities. These meetings made it clear that churches are a big part of the community’s support system. They are not only open for Sunday worship: they consistently help the people in their communities, especially during tough times.
This understanding strengthened our mission and led to a fulfilling summer of service, which was just the beginning.
Your contribution enables us to provide essential services, from nourishing meals to educational support and community rebuilding.
GiveWe partner with likeminded churches and nonprofits.
President
Kendra is the founder and president of the Encourage Puerto Rico. For more than two decades, she has held various roles in education, teaching preschool and adult ages, English and Spanish speakers, and in public and Christian schools. She currently teaches English language learners for the Mattoon, IL community school district. She and her husband Paul are parents to four kind and successful children.
Vice President
Tammy is a lifelong friend of Kendra and is the person who first invited her to their church. With a doctorate in education, she teaches math at the University School of East Tennessee State University.
Treasurer
John and his wife Kim have served in numerous capacities through Highland Church of Christ in Robinson, IL. John has headed numerous mission trips to PineHaven Children’s Ranch and God’s Littlest Angels orphanage in Haiti. He has made three trips with us to Puerto Rico, where he headed up construction projects at various churches.
Secretary
Brandy and Kendra taught together at the middle school in Mattoon, IL. Brandy and her husband are very mission-minded, and she greatly encouraged Kendra to start doing mission work in Puerto Rico. She currently teaches in Springfield, IL.
Board member
Kim is the children’s minister at Highland Church of Christ in Robinson, IL. She and her husband have both dedicated their lives to improving the lives of those around them. They have 6 children: most recently, they adopted a 5-year-old boy from the Dominican Republic, where they lived for 4 months. Kim is a very committed Christian and is a great supporter of mission work.
