There are no major industries in this isolated community, and consequently, there is a high unemployment rate. For those who do have jobs, they must commute a long distance to the San Juan metropolitan area. This means that children may spend long hours in the home, unsupervised, when school is not in session. Providing a positive and enriching experience for these children is a major objective of Voluntarios Unidos Serviendo con Amor. The program is managed by an independent school food authority which has experience administering Child Nutrition Programs because it also participates in the National School Lunch Program during the school year.
Partnerships play a key role in the success of the program.
The Puerto Rico Department of Education provided school buses for field trips and coordinated with school staff to give referrals to students with behavioral or family related problems.