With borders closed and supplies dwindling, the isolation of the outer islands of Bocas del Toro became painfully clear. Seniors, Indigenous Ngäbe-Buglé families, and small fishing communities suddenly found themselves without reliable access to food, fuel, or medical supplies.

Refusing to stand by, Bender drew on his Rotary training and logistical experience to organize a grassroots emergency supply and delivery network. Using small boats, he began transporting essentials to the most vulnerable — medicines for the elderly, staple foods for families, and fuel for Indigenous communities.

Within weeks, his ad hoc effort had evolved into a coordinated lifeline connecting remote communities. Out of a global crisis, a new kind of service was born.

“Rotary teaches us through its motto, Service Above Self, that true leadership begins with helping others.”
— Steve Bender