In 2015 Melissa Hernandez founded the Puerto Rico Project, a nonprofit organization that sparked a ray of hope within the community. Recently the Puerto Rico Project launched a mobile shower unit, a significant milestone in their efforts.
Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Kristin Peters played a crucial role in supporting Shower Connect by sponsoring a ministry grant and attended the ribbon cutting ceremony on May 18, 2024. The Puerto Rico Project’s Shower Connect is up and running in Humboldt Park, a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. Shower Connect will serve as a place for unhoused individuals to shower in a space without judgment.
Sister Kristin shares, “Melissa shows up for the community, honoring the dignity and humanity of each person she meets. She shows up on margins where few others go. She so touches and inspires me!”
In a world where basic necessities are often taken for granted, the Puerto Rico Project’s Shower Connect serves as a reminder of the power of compassion and the difference it can make in people’s lives.
Read the full story at WGN Chicago.
Melissa Hernandez and Sister Kristin Peters at Shower Connect's grand opening.