We are happy to report that the start of the school year in mid/August proved to be a happy experience3 for the children at RISE and Sendero thanks to donations from many of you. At RISE 35 children arrived at their preschool, elementary school, middle school or high school on the first day with new uniforms, backpacks, and school supplies. In addition, The Seavor Foundation in England, which brings a group of volunteers each summer to help for a month at RISE and Sendero, was able to purchase new school shoes plus tennis shoes for each RISE student.
At Sendero (partnered with New Beginnings Mexico in helping children and families living near the old dump site) contributions, including a very generous donation from the Chesterfield Community Church in Chesterfield, Indiana, allowed Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation to purchase and distribute 60 + backpacks filled with crayons, erasers, pencils, glue, scissors, notebooks, etc. and 45 white school shirts. Sendero also was able to pay the registration fees for all of these students so that they could start the new school year on the first day. Tuition expenses and school supplies were also provided for six Sendero SOS students. For more information about the opportunity to Sponsor One Student (SOS) please check our website – www.cshf-us.org under the Sendero/ SOS button.
Thanks again to all of you who help us to make a major difference in the lives of these precious children by attending to their educational and medical needs.
Do you remember the nursery rhyme about Old Mother Hubbard’s empty cupboard? Well, we have a serious medical resource problem at both RISE and Sendero. The medicine/first aid cupboards are VERY DEPLETED and so are the special funds set aside to purchase more necessities. RISE recently experienced a major simultaneous outbreak of head lice, impetigo AND scabies – major and contagious problems, if not treated immediately. Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation sent an extra $300 in emergency funds for purchasing lice shampoo, lotions and gels, plus antibiotics, creams and fumigation liquids to stop the outbreak from spreading and temporarily correct the problem; however additional supplies and funds will be needed soon to prevent a reoccurrence.
In addition, both RISE and Sendero are in immediate need of basic non-prescription medications and medical supplies, such as children’s vitamins, cold and cough medicine, diaper rash ointment, bandages, etc. If you are able to contribute large quantities of any medical items or to make a donation toward these very important needs, please send us an email right away atinfo@cshf-us.org PLEASE help us to insure that Mother Hubbard’s special children at RISE and Sendero can stay healthy and happy.
We would like to remind our many friends from Canada who support our efforts through volunteering, visiting, or contributing that we are able to offer legal tax receipts for your donations through our Canadian partner foundation, Stevenson Ministries Foundation – New Beginnings, which is a Canadian non-profit charitable organization. Janet and Andy Stevenson share our passion for children and their families in the Puerto Vallarta area; their contributions to this community through New Beginnings are appreciated by all of us. They work directly with the Sendero program which is housed at the New Beginnings facility in the Bosque de Progreso neighborhood (site of the old dump), offering educational, vocational, nutritional, legal and medical assistance to children and families living in extreme poverty. In addition New Beginnings accepts donations for RISE and passes those funds on to Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation for use as you have designated.
Alexis was born in Puerto Vallarta and is currently 15 years old. Some of you will remember that he lived as a child at Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza, where he grew up happy and surrounded by many friends. He has always been cooperative, compassionate, and sensitive with other children and adults around him.
Sendero de Esperanza y Amor supports Alexis’ educational efforts by contributing $65 US monthly toward his school tuition, books, educational materials, uniform and shoes, and public bus transportation so that he can continue toward a better life for himself and his family.
And, at Sendero, where we are assisting children living in EXTREME poverty out at the site of the old dump, we have about 60 children attending school with no government assistance to help with their needs. We want to provide each child with a backpack, 1 pair of shoes, a shirt, and some basic supplies, at an estimated cost of around $2000 US.