By Emily Umble, Assistant Director of Programs for BBF Global Relief

I had the privilege of traveling to Guatemala in November of last year with BBF Global Relief partner, Food for the Poor. When I arrived in Guatemala, I quickly realized the magnitude of the healthcare challenges faced by its people. The journey I embarked on revealed not only the immense need for healthcare but also the transformative power of compassion and aid. I was based in Guatemala City and on our first day, traveled from there to Mixco where the Order of Malta (OOM) administrative offices and warehouses are located. The Order of Malta is one of the biggest organizations in Guatemala that distributes BBF donations, mainly healthcare supplies. This 2-day tour, guided by OOM employees, consisted of visits to various clinics, hospitals, and patients’ homes. It was a lot to take in in a 2-day span, but there was much to cover in order to grasp the impact our donations have in different areas of the country.

Day 1: Mixco and Villa Canales. We began in Mixco where I was able to meet with several of the Order of Malta staff and to meet the many organizations and emergency and healthcare workers that had either arrived to pick up their donations orders or simply to show their appreciation to BBF and Food for the Poor for our support of their healthcare system. Representatives from hospitals and non-profits, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians were all there as recipients of BBF donations. I witnessed so many BBF donated medicines, durable medical equipment and medical supplies being loaded from the OOM docks on to the vehicles of community associations. From OOM, I was driven to a healthcare clinic in Villa Canales where we met the clinic director and a few patients who were there to receive their medicine and wheelchair donated by BBF. As I watched the wheelchair being given to an elderly stroke patient, it hit me how something as simple as a wheelchair could be life changing. It wasn’t just about the physical aid—it was about giving patients a sense of dignity and hope that they might have lost otherwise.

Day 2: Tejar, Antigua, and San Jose. Day 2 of my trip started with a visit to the Tejar Health Center. I spoke with their director, physician, and pharmacist and was given a tour of the pharmacy and learned of the ways in which our donated medicines serve as a supplement to their various inventory challenges. We went from Tejar to Antigua to observe the various departments of Hospital Pedro De Bethancourt and understand the needs of a Tier B hospital and the ways in which our donations, such as gowns, catheters, hospital beds, and wheelchairs have allowed them to provide even the most basic types of treatments.

Our last stop was in San Jose to visit OOM’s free healthcare clinic. We accompanied their pharmacist on home visits in some of the most remote areas where patients rely on deliveries of medications for treating conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, infections, and high blood pressure. These patients expressed immense gratitude to BBF for enabling them to continue their treatments, focus on caring for their loved ones, and maintain their ability to work and support their families. One of the most moving moments of my trip was meeting a 72-year-old widow in her home who is the primary caretaker for her grandson. She relies on the diabetes and cholesterol lowering medicines BBF provides. She shared how our donations allowed her to continue caring for her grandson and to continue her work of selling her homemade cheese that she carries in baskets on her head to town. Stories like hers are what keep the mission of BBF alive.

My trip to Guatemala opened my eyes to the challenges faced by so many people, but it also reminded me of the incredible power of community and global collaboration. More than half of the population in Guatemala struggles to afford food, forcing them to neglect doctor appointments, treatments, and urgent care. I was by the incredible impact of BBF’s aid (a total of 31 healthcare containers shipped to Guatemala in 2024) helping to navigate a complex and overwhelmed healthcare system. I’m more inspired than ever to continue my work through BBF, and I encourage you to explore how you too can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

View more photos of Emily’s trip here