Santiago, Chile, Sep 17, 2018 / 23:06 pm
Every Wednesday night, 87-year-old Elena Donaire goes out onto the streets of Santiago, Chile, to meet the homeless and attend to their needs.
For 40 years, Donaire has taken part in the "Street Route" of the Hogar de Cristo (Christ's Home), an organization that includes numerous outreach programs and facilities to help the poor.
Donaire starts her evening by fixing sandwiches, boiling water and organizing the warm clothing that she will give to the people she encounters on the streets. When everything is ready, the volunteers leave in their van.
Donaire is often the first to get out of the van to begin serving. Many of the homeless people on the streets of Santiago know her and greet her by the affectionate title "Dear Mama." The other volunteers call her by the nickname "Grandma."