Is Hands at the Furthest Reach a nonprofit?
No — and we won't pretend otherwise. It's an independent charity project run directly by its founder. It is not a registered nonprofit organization, and donations are not tax-deductible.
We put that next to the donate button, not in fine print, because trust starts with honesty about what we are.
Where does my donation actually go?
Into one general fund that pays for food, clean water, shelter materials, essential supplies, transport to remote places, and filming every delivery. Part of the fund also pays the founder a fair, openly stated living — this is full-time work.
How do I know the help is real?
You watch it. Every delivery is filmed — the people (with their consent), the place, the supplies changing hands — and posted publicly with dates. If we can't film it, we don't claim it.
Why does the founder take a living from donations?
Because this is full-time work — traveling to remote villages, buying and hauling supplies, filming, editing, fundraising — and an honest job deserves honest pay. The alternative is a mission that dies the moment its founder goes broke.
The line is transparency, not 100%-to-program: what's wrong is executives taking too much in secret, not fair compensation stated in daylight.
Is my donation just for Lucia?
No. Lucia Santana is the first story, never the only one. There's one general fund for anyone and everyone we can reach — her today, the next family tomorrow. We deliberately don't run per-person fundraisers.
How do donations get collected?
Through our public GoFundMe fundraiser — a ledger anyone can see. We don't run our own payment forms.
Do the people filmed agree to it?
Yes — everyone you see agreed to be filmed, Lucia included. Dignity first, always: we document help, never suffering for clicks.
Can I share this or start my own fundraiser?
Please do. Share the clips, post the stories, or rally your own circle and point them at the GoFundMe. Reach is a resource too.
Where do you work?
We started in San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic — and we go wherever remote need and access meet. As the fund grows, the reach grows.
Still curious about something?
Ask us →