The normally quiet summer months in Puerto Vallarta were positive and productive for the children living at Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza, a shelter for young children. Several important changes to the 13-year-old facility occurred, making it more comfortable and welcoming for the 40 children currently there living full-time.
First, the original small downstairs bathroom next to the laundry room was remodeled FINALLY. The space was divided in half, providing a girls’ side with 3 toilets and one shower; and a separate boys’ side with 2 toilets, a urinal, and 2 showers. Most importantly, Continue reading “RISE is Shining!!”
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 – 
We have three special families living in the area of the Old Dump near the New Beginnings facility, who need help in different ways. Their situations are not good, but our biggest concern is for THE CHILDREN.
The first case is JOANA. She is a 5-year-old child who has been diagnosed with microcephaly, a rare neurological condition in which a child’s head is significantly smaller than normal. This can occur because of a variety of genetic and environmental factors, and often results in developmental issues. Joana does not talk and is sick frequently. She needs a special medical test that will cost about 2,900 pesos (about $230 US). Recently she started having convulsions. Joana need to drink ENSURE milk every day, but her family cannot afford it. She also needs diapers and diaper wipes.
The third family of concern is the one of Don Santos, a 65-year-old man with three grandchildren. His son left the three children with him a year ago and has never come back. Dulce is 8 years old and in second grade; Christopher is 6 years old and in first grade; and Cristian is 5 years old and just started to go to kindergarten. Don Santos needs help to support his family since he cannot work because he is sick much of the time. New Beginnings and Sendero are providing medicines and school supplies; however, like the other two families these children need basic food, clothes, beds and A DECENT BATHROOM.
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.