Within each human being lives a simple desire to reach out to those who suffer. Unfortunately, finding the suffering is an easy task. The challenge lies in finding an avenue to channel our help.

For me, that avenue began four years ago with a phone call from a second-grade classmate in Colombia whom I had not seen in 45 years. My old friend talked of Colombian children who walked for hours through mountainous terrain in order to attend school, often without shoes or clothing. Outside my window in Winter Park, Florida, I could see only abundance. The idea for Amigos Unidos was born. I contacted some friends and the mission started. We currently provide shoes, clothing, and school supplies to 18 schools in Boyaca, Colombia, and have extended the mission to 3 other areas.

We are fortunate to have three wonderful contacts in Colombia with the same altruistic goals who care deeply for the needs of these impoverished communities: my friend and former classmate, Orfila Maldonado in Bogota, former Winter Park teacher Ricardo Gomez in Guapi, and Angela Talavera in Meta. These three work to ensure that our resources go directly to those in need and are distributed without regard to political or religious affiliation.

Amigos Unidos would like to express a special thanks to our major patron, Esther Phelps, who has continuously and unwaveringly provided her support.

-Mercy James, founder (2010)