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IFC February pg. 2

COMMUNITY AID
Susan Davalos R.N.
Tel: 044-322-111-5115
Email: pedroysusan@hotmail.com
 

BACK PACKS BACKPACKS BACKPACKS - TOOTHBRUSHES AND TOOTHPASTE...THANK YOU.

I had a wonderful time assisting the TOYS 4 TOTS program on 3 KINGS DAY here in Puerto Vallarta. My husband accompanied those who went to the way out villages in MASCOTITIA and IXTLAHUEHUY. I took this opportunity to represent the IFC and to view the whereabouts and assess some of the needs of the schools in the newer communities/colonias. They are located at the base of the mountains behind Pitillal; colonias with names such as--12TH OCTOBER and LOS VOLCANOS. Being newer areas, they are the new poorest.

I am also working with a lady from England who has begun the GENTE( por la educacion) program. Her program has people and groups donating services and aid to schools at high risk. The goal is a better education. Most of us know that attending school is important. The problem again is that many of the kids have not eaten a decent meal and are too hungry to focus on learning. I have started to try to problem solve getting some fruits to the areas a couple times a week.

While I am working out the bugs in that I would like to ask our members to start looking around for discounts on Back packs for these students. I have a goal of 1,000 collecting new backpacks. We are asking for only new backpacks as used ones do not last but a few weeks here in the humidity. I will be going to these areas and giving dental hygiene classes so the call for toothbrushes and toothpaste still remain. Dental floss is a luxury but I can still use it to teach. Sincere thanks for helping us..."MAKE SMILES"

“Kings,” Ed Sharp and Dick Kasperson doing their thing on the “Day of Kings (Toys for Tots distribution day)”

 

Thank You Column:
Once again, donations have been rolling in…
  • Many thanks to Dave Gale from Canada for his generous cash donation to help seniors in Puerto Vallarta.
  • Thank you Ruth Miller for your generous cash donation.
     
  • Thank you to Milton Oberlander of Chicago, IL, Betty and Avron Zechman of Wilmette, IL, Susan Carter of Mt. Prospect, IL, and Judy Mellenthien, of Fond du Lac, WI all who gave generous cash donations to our Education Program.
  • Thank you Bob & Louise Peterson of W. Richland, WA for a nice donation of children’s shoes and school supplies.
     
  • And finally, thanks to Ted Will for all that he does to keep the club working and for not charging a dime.
     

 

TOYS FOR TOTS
Jerry Lafferty
Tel: 221-6156
Email: laffja@aol.com

We delivered more than 8,000 toys to some of the neediest kids in PV on Three Kings Day, January 6. This is up more than 30% from last year's 6,000 toys. Spreading smiles during the holiday season is what we're all about, and the 200 or so volunteers that accompanied the 6 caravans witnessed first hand the power of affecting a child's life beyond simply providing the basic necessities. Smiles and hope were in great abundance.

IFC led one of the 6 caravans, and distributed toys from Mismaloya to El Tuito. Other caravans led by members of the Navy League, Marriott Hotel, U.S. Consular Agency, Coldwell Banker, and Vallarta Online crisscrossed the Bahia from Nayarit to San Sebastian to villages to the East of Pitillal. Included among the 200 volunteers were students from the American School, and sailors from the Mexican Armada and the visiting U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alert.

We want to thank everyone who devoted most of their day to traveling to some of the more remote areas of PV, and the more than 300 people who supported T4T by attending our fundraiser in early December. Also, major kudos must go to our business sponsors, who donated in excess of 350,000 pesos in goods and services. These include The Marriott, Vista Vallarta Golf Club, Coldwell Banker, Continental Airlines, TaylorMade and Championship Golf, Vallarta Online, Barcelona Tapas, and more than 60 other small businesses.

We are targeting to distribute at least 10,000 toys in 2005!! Each additional toy means one more smile on the faces of our neediest kids. Do plan to join in the fun next year!