Masks made by volunteers for Operation Feed in San Jun Cosala.

Patrick O’Heffernan (Ajijic.) During the C-19 coronavirus many Lakeside organizations have come forward to help people who have lost jobs or income or who are sick. This list is by no means exhaustive and new efforts pop up every day, but it demonstrates the depth  and breadth of generosity in the Lakeside area and offers opportunities to those who would like to help. 

Operation Feed in San Juan Cosala, a town hit very hard by unemployment by the virus is providing food despensas for those who would go hungry without them. They are collecting food and medicine and money for needy families at http://www.operationfeedsjc.org/donate.html.

Super La Huerta market in west Ajijic collects food for needy Mexican families and assembles despensas of food, masks, and basic home supplies for families. Anyone who would like to help is invited to stop by with donations. The stores is at Carretera Pte. 248, 45920 Ajijic;  phone number is 376 766 4590

The Recovery and Rehabilitation Center for Alcoholism and Drug Addiction in Chapala is going from door to door throughout Lakeside collecting food for patients in Chapala. People who don’t have sealed bags of rice or beans or other suitable foods can give cash.

Volunteer from CREAD collecting food donations.

Casa Mayabela Test Kitchen is helping families with Smoke for Hope, a freshly-cooked food provision program that provides highly nutritious and delicious meals to families in need.  Round 2 of Smoke and Hope was able to feed 9 families last week. Owner  Karl Gerzand is now receiving donations from Mexico, Europe and the US and gearing up for Round 3.  Donations can be made to CasaMayabela.com. Two hundred pesos feeds a family.

Dinners from Casa Mayabela Smoke for Hope program. 

Programma de Niños Incapacitados, which helps disabled children and their families through its three clinics where families come for advice and reimbursement of medical costs. The organization is currently helping between 150 and 200 families, many of whom have children with compromised immune systems.  They have not yet had to deal with families hit by the virus but know it is likely, and will develop an alternative process because they had to close their three clinic-offices. Instead, for the time being they gave families enough cash for 2 months. Due to the virus Niños cannot produce its annual gala fundraising event and must raise $ 500,000 pesos in a capital campaign  to continue for many more months, especially if Coronavirus reaches families they help. People who want to donate to Niños Icapaciados can go to https://www.programaninos.com/

Foodbank Lakeside has been one of the most active organizations, working with Mexican and Ex-pat volunteers, other charities and small local stores to create weekly care packages for  needy families. Last week they provided $71,588 worth of food for 210 families in Ajijic, San Antonio Tlayacapan, Santa Cruz and San Pedro. They are now working in San Nicolas and Mezcala and assembling teams for Chapala. They operate on donations which can be made to : https://paypal.me/pools/c/8o0ufezDh4. Follow them on Facebook for credit card donations and volunteer opportunities.

Despensa from Foodbank Lakeside

Facebook groups and individual accounts are coming alive with opportunities to help.  An example is Noemi Beltran’s Facebook page which organizes Solidarity Care Packages to meet basic needs with toilet paper, dry goods, canned foods, vegetables and other items plus 200 pesos cash to families hit hard by the COVID-19.  Each package costs about $1,000 pesos and can be a lifeline for a family in need. Donations can go to www.PayPal.me/NoemiBeltranLo; the food packages are delivered from the Abastos market in Guadalajara to the families door.

Finally Government officials in Chapala and Jocotepec are donating a part of their salaries to efforts to feed local families that would go hungry otherwise.  They are working with local charities to purchase and distribute food, masks, and other necessities.

Advertising of Food Lake Container.