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- To add your name to the email list and receive the monthly LIA Newsletter, contact: jim2rob@gmail.com
Follow up on the Garden Project: Bernadine Janzen has taken on the role as Garden Project Coordinator to seek out volunteers to help train the gardener and older children how to care for the garden: transplanting early shoots, watering, weeding, composting, harvesting as well as cooking and preserving vegetables and fruits.
Project Supervisor Joe de Leon has calculated the cost of the garden project including fruit trees, girl’ s play area and the two gardens and general cleanup and topsoil and compost. The final total was $43,376 pesos or about $3500 USD. Besides these expenses Joe graciously donated seeds, germinating trays, growing media and other items. Donations came from a number of individuals including Winston de Blanc, Laurie Smart and Bob Howard; Bob and Elaine Johnston, Robert and Pat Miller, Rebecca Atherton, Walter Umphrey, Jim Stoddard, Clarita Huffman; and the Frog Pond Church.
“Adopt a Tree” Coordinator Needed: One idea to make sure that the fruit trees planted around the grounds are cared for, especially when the rains stop is an “Adopt a Tree” project for Center children. The Project needs a Coordinator to map out the locations of over 85 fruit trees on the property and then have the older children sign up to water and care for at least two trees on a regular basis. Contact Bernadine Jones for more information or if you can assist at tattacbsj@gmail.com
“Pass It Forward” from Love in Action Bazaar: Last year Barbara Kiernan from a Tucson Rotary Club and Sally Salvatore from the Ajijic Rotary Club joined together to collect items and monies to convert two old garages at Love in Action to what resulted in the Love in Action Center Bazaar which opened this past February. Clothing donations came from Lakeside Expats, Mexicans and Mia’s Boutique.
Love in Action Bazaar Coordinator Mary Anne Molinari has recently begun to “pass forward” clothes with minor imperfections that do not sell locally. Recipients include programs organized by Libby Townsend for the Tarahumara Project, Dr. Polo for children at Civil Hospital in Guadalajara; a quilter who makes blankets for needy children; Jean Melnyk of the Little Chapel for people in a mountain village, and Mooney King for the San Juan Church in San Nicolás Village. More recently many items were sent to help out the village of Atononilquillo after the disastrous flood displaced 1000 villagers.
Currently, surplus clothing is also being distributed free of charge in the “barrio” community of Tepehua in Chapala where the original Love In Action Center was situated. Love in Action hopes to raise money to restore the building to become a Community Center with skill-related programs for children and families. By providing services as they develop, the Center hopes to restore community pride and respect in one of Jalisco’s most deprived neighborhoods.
Mary would also like to extend a thank you to Bob and Sally Salvatore for having a table made for the Bazaar for clothing separation.
Love in Action Pantry Drive: First, the children of Love in Action would like to thank the many volunteers and donors who contributed to the Pantry Drive last week. And secondly, muchas gracias to the Chapala Country Club, Walmart, SuperLake, El Torito and Yola’s Hair Salon for allowing us to set up our “collection booths” at their locations.
Drive Coordinator, Bonnie Newman, stated, “In the three days of the Pantry Drive over $12,000 pesos was raised along with two SUV loads of foods that we so desperately need such as powdered milk, pasta, rice and beans, breakfast cereals and pancake foods, along with much needed plastic bins for storage. The funds collected will be used to purchase food at the Abastos as needed where we can get more for our pesos.”
Bonnie added, “This Pantry Drive was so much more successful than we ever expected. Again we thank the Lakeside community for participating and helping us so much. I especially want to thank the Mexican community for their involvement which was HUGE.” For late donations or information, contact Bonnie at 766-0963 or bonniemck@gmail.com
Emergency Call for Diapers: The Nursery is in desperate need of Large size diapers. Diapers may be dropped off at the Center at Pedro Moreno #76 in Chapala, or contact Dina Oropeza at dvo@prodigy.net.mx for more information.
Posted 1 week, 6 days ago. Add a comment
Oregon Church Volunteers Plant Love in Action Gardens
Love in Action now has two vegetable gardens planted the last week of June thanks to a visiting team of dedicated volunteers. The young people and parents from Frog Pond United Church of Christ in Wilsonville Oregon under the supervision of Joe deLeon prepared the soil with mulch, installed a drip irrigation system and planted two gardens with vegetables which will help to feed the Center’s children. A local volunteer Garden Committee at the Center promise to keep the garden productive and thriving.
Besides the fenced in gardens, the team planted 40 fruit trees (citrus, apples, peaches, pears, plums, bananas and papayas) throughout the property which again will contribute to the children’s diet. Members of the Frog Pond team also visited the old Tepehua building and are considering a garden project to help rehabilitate Tepehua. The group was treated to an evening party at the home of Moonyeen and Perry King and with their work complete spent last Friday on a tour of Guadalajara.
Cristianne Smith, wife of the church’s pastor, termed their work in the community “fruitful” for herself and the team which first visited the Chapala area three years ago. Their last project was a similar garden at Villa Infantil. Stan Schultz who arrived with his wife Margo and their three teenage offspring said it was the first time the whole family had participated in one of the Church’s team ministries. Project Coordinator for Love in Action, Joe deLeon stated, “I am very proud of the project. The Oregon group did a terrific job on the gardens and irrigation system, and they also donated 10 soccer balls for the kids.”
Lake Chapala Review July Column:
The Love in Action Community Service Center: the Tepehua Project
Young Pedro growing up in the Tepehua neighborhood on the hillside above Chapala was an exceptionally bright young man. Sadly, in this barrio environment he became addicted to heroine. Love in Action began its work there in 2002 and founder Anabel Frutos realized Pedro’s potential and got him into a rehabilitation center in Guadalajara. Now, Pedro is the director of another rehab center to help other addicted people get their lives back.
When Love in Action moved to its larger Children’s Center in 2009, it left behind many like Pedro who had come to rely on their assistance. Neighbors learned how to improve their lives through education and counseling. Classes were held in sewing, crafts, electricity and plumbing for men, nutrition and child care. Both child and elder care were offered along with a meal program, monthly birthday and holiday fiestas and family counseling. Without the Center, the Tepehua community has had few such resources and the abandoned building has begun to deteriorate and be vandalized.
Anabel and Board members at Love in Action are now working on funding for the Tepehua Project which seeks to rehabilitate the original building and restore a series of programs. Funding proposals are in the works to obtain both private and service club funding to make the necessary upgrades in the building to develop the Love In Action Tepehua Community Service Center.
The Center will have three overall goals: first, to provide community service programs; secondly, to develop hostel space for visiting community service teams and thereby creating some income; and ultimately to provide dormitory space for teenage boys when they outgrow the Love in Action Center within the next two to three years. These proposals are requesting approximately $80,000 USD to repair the existing structure, improve the electrical, water and garden systems with a stress on ecological methods which can be a model for the community.
The first goal, to offer daytime programs again at Tepehua, could begin by the end of this summer. The building’s outstanding electrical bill will be paid this month and a security guard hired to live at the Center to reduce vandalism. Once the building is cleaned up, daytime community service programs could begin by September. Thus, the Love in Action could once again be a positive focus for the community and gain its renewed support.
Donations have already been coming in to make a start. Once the building is ready for daytime programs, the Center will also need donations of furniture such as tables, chairs and a new refrigerator and kitchen items. For information on the Tepehua Project or donations of funds or furniture, contact Moonie King at 763-5126 or moonie1935@yahoo.com.
Thanks: Thanks to Carlos Estrada, the owner of the Acuática School & Sports Chapala, who is having a physical therapist come in from Guadalajara once a week to give four of our special needs children water therapy in the pool at his location in Riberas, next to Baba’s Restaurant. Carlos is doing this service at no charge for our children.
Also, thanks to Citlali Bravo Ibarra from the School for the Deaf in Jocotepec who has been checking our special needs children for hearing problems. She plans to come to the Center and check all of our children and is offering this service free of charge.
The LIA Newsletter is published each month by Robin Lawrason, Press Relations for the Center. The Newsletter is also published and updated as needed throughout the month on the Love in Action Center Website under “News” at http://loveinactioncenter.org If you have LiA news items you would like to include or names to add to our Mailing List, or would like to be removed from the list, contact Robin at jim2rob@gmail.com
Posted 1 month, 3 weeks ago. Add a comment
Donations to Love in Action Center:
Recently, people have asked how they can contribute to Love in Action by a personal gift or to honor someone’s birthday, marriage, anniversary, or make a memorial. Dina has outlined these methods for making a donation to Love in Action.
1. Mail or deliver Checks to: [made out to: Centro Amor en Acción A.C.] Mail to: Centro Amor en Acción, c/o Anabel Frutos PO Box 535, Chapala, Jalisco, CP 45900 Mexico. Or bring check or cash to the Center Office at Pedro Moreno #76, Chapala.
2. Pay Pal Method: [ You will need your own Pay Pal account to use this method.] Available at our website: www.loveinactioncenter.org and Pay Pal access will appear on the left hand under “Donate”. Note: You can make a comment as to how you wish your funds be distributed or whom you are honoring (birthday, wedding, memorial) Click “ADD” in the “Note to seller”.
3. Direct Deposit or Wire Transfer: Donations may be directly deposited at HSBC Bank or transferred by wire. To obtain information on account numbers or for questions on donation, contact Dina at donations@loveinactioncenter.org
Lake Chapala Review; June 2010: “Making a Difference” Programs at Love in Action
A range of educational programs and activities are helping the children at the Center to gain skills and behaviors that will change their lives. Programs range from English as a Second Language and computer skills to art, music and dance and social skills. One of the most extensive that reaches all children at the center is the values training sessions.Values and Making a Difference: One of the goals of the Love in Action Center is to change the lives of the children by teaching values that will lead to their success in whatever future they choose. Learning positive values has already made a difference in the life of Josie who arrived at the Center at age 10 from a home where she was totally neglected and had never been enrolled in school. Once enrolled, she has taken two years in one and is now on the Honor Role in Grade 7. Josie has learned to be clean, orderly and focused and has the courage to continue her schooling to make a real difference in her life.
Anabel Frutos, Director at Love in Action, has begun an innovative training program to teach essential values to all Center children. Forty different values will be taught over the next year. The program uses a textbook illustrated with birds and animals with a face page for a particular value such as respect, obedience, attention or compassion. On the back of the card are stories of the importance to survival of the youngster of each value and examples how one might demonstrate that value.
Each evening house parents teach one individual value. They show the pictures, tell the stories and have the children memorize the definition of a particular value. On the value of “respect,” for example, the card illustrates how a child should demonstrate his or her respect for another. The children then learn respectful behaviors such as sitting up straight, listening carefully to what the other person is saying, and looking at the other person while they are talking to you. Godparents are being enlisted to give feedback on how this training is making a difference in the behavior of their godchildren.
Computer Classes: Vince Massi reports that thanks to the kindness of donors, the Center has thirteen educational computers in the Computer Lab. Some of our children had missed years of school, and our wide variety of educational software, along with tutors and supervisors, is giving them the opportunity to begin catching up.
Motivated by their own enthusiasm, students with reading difficulties have learned to use the keyboards, follow written instructions, and solve problems involving language and logic skills. Supervisors are pleased at how willingly the children help each to understand the programs, and the students are noticeably improving in their abilities to function in society after they have grown up.
Individual Tutoring: Joyce Lawrence reports that the tutors are delighted with the progress little Bryon has made since she began working with him last September. He was at ground zero in his reading and writing skills and had no confidence in his ability to learn. He has now completed two thirds of a reading method used in many of the California schools with Mexican children. He reads, writes and spells most of the letter combinations in Spanish and shows great enthusiasm and initiative in his work. Joyce expects that by the time the school year ends he will be reading independently and with comprehension and hopefully will move on to second grade. She plans to work with him through the summer perhaps on his math skills. Bryon has recently discovered the computer and loves to spend time on it after his tutoring sessions. Joyce feels very rewarded for her time and effort and hopes to continue tutoring other kids at LIA.
The LIA Newsletter is published each month by Robin Lawrason, Press Relations for the Center. Contact Robin at jim2rob@gmail.com
Posted 2 months, 2 weeks ago. Add a comment
Who likes clothes and “playing” store. We desperately need volunteers for the bazaar. It is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday. If any one is interested in helping with pricing, folding and substituting at the cash register and/or rearranging, sorting or hanging clothes in the storeroom, this is a place for you! We would love your help. Please contact Mary Anne Molinari at mamrn.mex@gmail.com.
Posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago. Add a comment
Love in Action Bazaar Update: The new Bazaar at Love in Action has only been open since early February, and has recently extended the hours from 11 AM to 3 PM Monday through Friday. The Bazaar at Pedro Moreno No. 76 in Chapala has a range of useful items at very reasonable prices. The profits currently go towards the Center’s weekly food expense and a small stipend to a Bazaar staff person.
Donations of all kinds of items are needed. Besides clothing for all ages, big sellers are non clothing items such as nick knacks, small appliances, towels, bedding, cooking utensils and furniture. While paperback books don’t sell very well, children’s books do, even in English. Besides receiving donations from private individuals, the Bazaar has also receives donations from Mia’s Consignment Boutique of clothes that cannot be sold.
While clothes in good condition sell at the Center, clothes that have a holes or marks on them are first placed in a reduced price box. If they still do not sell, volunteers may buy them for a peso. They are then laundered, bagged and sent to people in more destitute situations. For example, a bag of slightly stained but clean baby clothes went to a local doctor who donates it to Hospital Civil in Guadalajara. This “Helping Others” concept may become a regular feature at the Bazaar to add to profits and help more needy people in the area.
Mary Anne Molinari and Anabel Frutos are co-managers at the Bazaar. Mary Anne collects, sorts, prices, and arranges donated items. She would like a special thanks to go to volunteers John and Paula Tormey who have spent many hours in the Bazaar storage area separating, hanging and boxing clothes, and to volunteer Dorothy Slaiman who works on Monday in the Bazaar and to volunteers Gill Gilbrath, Anne Curtis and Dina Oropeza who have assisted in the storage area.
More volunteers are needed to staff the Bazaar. If you have time to volunteer for a few hours per week, contact Mary Anne at 766-0175 or mamrn.mex@gmail.com
Friends of Love in Action are asked to pay a visit to the Bazaar located to the left of the entrance to the Love in Action Center on Pedro Moreno. Take the Ajijic-Chapala Carretera to Hildago make a left at the light onto Madero, go past the Pemex and make first right onto Pepe Guizar Boulevard at the boat sculpture just before Sorianna. Drive several blocks down to where you see on the left an orange hardware store building. Turn right onto Av Los Patos and drive two blocks to LIA at the end of this short street.
Chapala Review May Column: The Godparent’s Program: Changing Children’s Lives: The Godparent’s Program is one of the most rewarding programs at the Center for both godchildren and godparents. One success story shows how this program has significantly changed, not only the life of a young teenager, but his family as well.
Pacho’s father was diagnosed with diabetes and because of his treatments he first lost his job and then the family home. Pacho had to quit school and was forced to wash cars to support the family. When Love in Action moved to its new location last year, Pacho’s parents were able to move in as house parents to care for around 12 boys from 6 to 10, including his younger brother.
With the family’s room and board now assured, Pacho was “adopted” by new godparents at the Center. They re-enrolled him in school as well as special classes to learn English and computer skills. Within a year Pacho graduated at the top of his class and then acquired a job teaching English at a private school. Next, his godparents will be paying for his university training in computer science. Pacho’s story is just one great success story for this program which teams children with godparents.
Godparents are couples who reside in Chapala Lakeside area, that wish to sponsor a child and spend a little time with them. Financially, they contribute $1500 pesos per year for the child’s school expenses including the school registration fee and school clothing. They also may buy them other clothes and personal items. In addition, Godparents participate in the child’s birthday and Christmas. And to get to know them better, they take their godchild on outings at least once a month to places such as Cristiania Park, a Circus, the Balnearios or Toblandia for swimming, or to Guadalajara to the Zoo or Amusement Park next door.
The mission of the Godparents Program is first, to provide a guiding force in the children’s lives through quality relationships between Godparents and children and secondly, to sponsor their schooling and additional programs which provide academic and social challenges. Overall, the program aims to foster in each godchild his or her individual dreams, a desire for learning and living, and a sense of gratitude and respect for others. One Godparent summed it up by saying, “We are so moved when we see the difference this program makes not only in the life of our young godson but also in our own. We get back far more than the little we give.”
Sponsors are non-residents and residents that wish to sponsor a child, but are not able to spend time with them. They contribute to the child’s education expense, clothing expense, and also contribute for birthday and Christmas gifts.
There are still a number of children at the Center who do not yet have Godparents or Sponsors. For more information on these Programs, see their website at: http://godparentsloveinaction.intuitwebsites.com or contact the Godparent Team at godparentslia@gmail.com.
More Thank Yous: Many thanks to Dr. Angelica Quintero of Maskaras Clinic who performed a thorough examination and prescribed treatment recently for one of the LiA Nursery Children at a substantially reduced fee.
The LIA Newsletter is published each month by Robin Lawrason, Press Relations for the Center. Contact Robin at jim2rob@gmail.com
Replacement of Director of Programs:It is with pleasure that the Love in Action Board announces the appointment of David Hoogenberg as the new Director of Programs. As you know, we have many volunteers and to ensure that our volunteers are effective, this role is required to ensure that all of our volunteers work towards supporting the Shelter in a meaningful way.
David comes with a wealth of experience in the areas of analysis, problem solving, and coming to a decision, as well as leadership and management experience. He has also been exposed to a variety of problems associated with the start up of a small business. He understands the importance of communications and in providing information so that people can be effective in their roles. David’s career spans many different areas. He has spent 20 years in the Canadian military (air force) where he was an instructor in the avionics and electronics areas – just think of all of those controls and dials in an airplane which need to be thoroughly understood if a plane is to operate effectively. David was also a senior supervisor in the areas of Quality Assurance and Flight Safety. After his stint in the Canadian military, David started up his own Information Technology business before deciding to come to live in Mexico where he was involved with a Nursing Home for a number of years.
Please join with me in welcoming David to the role of Director of Programs. I am sure you will be hearing from David in the next few days. Should you wish to get in contact with him, please use the email: volunteers@loveinactioncenter.org.
Love in Action Board
Godparents: Annual School Fees Due April 30th
All Godparents are reminded that the annual fees ($1500 pesos) are now due. These fees cover the annual cost of uniforms and books for each godchild. Fees can be paid at the office at Love in Action open from 10 AM to 2 PM Monday to Friday. On Mondays a Godparent Club representative is at LIA from 11AM until 1PM. If you are not in residence you can pay by credit or debit card securely through PayPal at the Godparents website at: http://godparentsloveinaction.intuitwebsites.com. Or contact email: godparentslia@gmail.com.
Replacement for our Office Administrator Adriana
We are currently looking for a replacement for Adriana, our salaried office administrator. The person would need book-keeping and accounting experience, experience as an administrator, ability to use Excel, Word, etc. Since the person would be answering the phone and meeting visitors, English would also be a requirement. For more information, contact Sylvia Tsuji at tsujis@rogers.com.
Thank You!
Thank you to Jewelry Artist Joyce Simmons and her clients for her generous donation to Love in Action following her recent jewelry show and sale of her unique custom jewelry. Joyce noted in her donation letter to Dina, “I have two passions that come together with this gift: the love of children and the great interest in creating unique custom jewelry. I appreciate, as well, my clients for their generous purchases.”
Thanks too to Tom Barsanti who gives a percentage of his earnings from sales on homes to the Center. Regular monthly donors include Geoffrey Kaye, Wally Mills and Barbara Miller, Wallace and Charlotte Vawter.
April Lake Chapala Review Column: The Comida Project
One day a volunteer on the Comida Project at Love in Action brought out a bag of Cheetos at the end of the noontime meal. Suddenly, little Jose uttered the first word the volunteers had every heard him speak, “Cheeto.” Jose, almost 3 years old but the size of a child half his age, doesn’t speak much because of his malnutrition when he arrived at the Center. Now he is recovering, in part because of the Comida Project which prepares and serves the kids nutritious noon meals including a main dish, bread, veggies and fruit.
The Monday Comida Project crew includes Weezie and Jim Burgess, Marcia and Larry Lavender, Marti and Steve McBride, Rollo Storey, and Jill and John Matthews. They take turns preparing comida, the main meal of the day, and all assist serving over 60 children. Jerry Forman and Paul Brier provide lively music for the kids during the lunches.
A more recent volunteer to the Project, Johnny Phillips, has had prior experience in operating professional kitchens. He and his team have taken on responsibilities for providing Thursday Comida at the Center for the last several months. Johnny also has plans to begin a program to help train some of the older girls at the Center to organize a kitchen, and to prepare and serve this noonday meal. These organizational skills could come in handy in their future lives and careers.
Regular volunteers cook large batches of dishes such as chile con carne, sloppy joes, or other casserole type meals at home and bring them in. Larry Graves each month purchases rotisserie chickens from which thrifty house mothers create several meals. Weezie Burgess and Marti McBride began the Comida Project program over three years ago. They estimate that it costs approximately $100 USD to provide a nutritious lunch for about 60 kids and 15 primarily unpaid staff members each day. Post publication update: New volunteers Bernadette and John Chirico and Monica and Chris Britton joined the Project for a comida just recently.
Once there were five volunteer teams to prepare the weekday lunches. Now there are only two. Thus, the Center depends upon staff to prepare lunches the other three weekdays. Depending on funds available, sometimes food sources are scarce. Donations of food come from Walmart, Taiwan Buffet, Panino’s, Marisa’s Bakery and others, but these cannot fill all the dietary needs of the Center for three full meals per day.
The Comida Project needs more volunteer help to provide nutritious daily lunches for Jose and all the Center children. Volunteers could assist a number of ways: from taking on comida duties for a day each week to taking on comida for an occasional day with a group of friends. Or volunteers could contribute towards the funding to purchase the food needed for one or more days. The Comida Project contact person is Weezie Burgess at 766-2830 or weezieburgess@gmail.com. Call Weezie to see how you can help the Comida Project through contributing funding or time.
The LIA Newsletter is published each month by Robin Lawrason, Press Relations for the Center.
Posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago. 1 comment
Teach ESL (English Second Language) classes. Be available Monday thru Thursday two hours per day Monday thru Thursday. Qualification; enjoy working with children. Teaching experience helpful, but not necessary. Please contact Bobbi Little 376-766-5876 or 331-254-8293. or blittle_success4me@yahoo.com
Posted 5 months, 1 week ago. Add a comment
It is with much regret that we announce that Dina Oropeza has resigned from the position of Director of Volunteer Programs. Dina has been with the Love in Action Shelter for the past two and a half years, first as Assistant Director and lately as Director of Volunteer Programs. She has accumulated a wealth of knowledge about the Shelter and has always been available to serve in many different capacities to ensure the Shelter was functioning effectively.
Although Dina will no longer support the Shelter in an administrative capacity, she will still remain with us but in a limited capacity. She wants to reduce her hours to achieve two very important things (1) to ensure that the needs of her family are met and (2) to work in the area that first drew her to the Shelter which is directly with the children, enhancing their lives in all ways possible. Dina will still remain a member of the Board due to her extensive administrative knowledge that has been, and will continue to be, a source of strength for the Shelter.
We have been so fortunate in having Dina work with us and respect her wishes and desires in areas that are important to her life’s goals. Please join the Board in personally thanking Dina for her dedication, effort and time she has willingly put into her various administrative. She will happily now start playing with the young ones at LiA .
Love in Action Board
Posted 5 months, 1 week ago. 1 comment
In early March, one of the boys from Love in Action was transferred to Hope House. Since that time, there have been a number of communications over the transfer and whether the boy’s Godparents could continue their relationship at Hope House in Ixtlahuacan, the shelter to which the boy was transferred. As well, we have come to learn there are some misunderstandings on the relationship which LiA has with Hope House, whether the two boards decide on their policies and practices together, whether the Godparent Program would continue at the Hope House shelter and why the boy was transferred in the first place.
It is within this context that we communicate to you now to clarify these misunderstandings.
Background Information on the Relationship between Love in Action and Hope House:
It is the normal practice of Love in Action to transfer maturing boys who reach the age of 9-1/2 to 10 years to Hope House due to the difficulties of housing older children of different sexes in the same facility. This transfer practice has been in effect for the last number of years. In addition, Love in Action is not equipped with the tools and machines to train the older boys in a useful skill and career so they can be self-sufficient by the time they leave the shelter. Without Hope House we would have to send our boys to shelters in Guadalajara.
Hope House has the same overall goals as Love in Action – to raise children to become contributing members of Mexican society – the difference being that Hope House perform their role under a Biblican Christian mandate under the founding doctrine of the Sheppard’s Heart Ministries in Tennessee. The Love in Action children receive religious and spiritual guidance through a non denominational church pastored by Anabel Frutos’s husband Raol. Hope House is a shelter caring for approximately 25 boys from the ages of 9-17 years whereas LiA shelters approximately 60 children from infants to 17 year old girls. Both shelters receive financial support from SHM although Love in Action’s principal financial support is funded from public donations from a diverse supporter base.
Rodney Dutro, who recently fulfilled the role of Director of Hope House but is now the General Manager, worked with Anabel Frutos at the Love in Action Shelter for some two years before opening a shelter in Ixtlahuacan called Hope House. Both shelters have distinct and separate Boards of Directors and for the most part operate independently.
The Shepherd’s Heart Ministry, with whom Hope House has an affiliation, has an Adopt a Child program where individuals can make financial donations (similar in concept to World Vision) and those donations are distributed to the charities this ministry supports. This information became known when LiA had a meeting with Hope House on March 15th. In 2009, Love in Action developed and implemented a Godparent Program whereby individuals, once interviewed, screened, referenced and approved, could become enrolled in the program. This program supports the educational needs of the child in the areas of paying for the annual school registration fee, buying a uniform, shoes, a knapsack and school supplies. The program also allows visitations and off site visits for 2-3 hours at a time, under the supervision of the Godparent and to local places of interest. As well, the Godparent Program leaders initiate social get togethers for Godparents, Love in Action staff and children so the children can be together in a group atmosphere – as this is their family.
The Specific Issue that Caused Concern:
Over the last two weeks and since the Love in Action newsletter of March 10th which contained an article on “Hope House Refuses Gay Financial Support” LiA has received a number of emails – one from Hope House and others from the LiA’s community. Before the release of the newsletter, prior communications had already started with Hope House on our Godparent Program and whether it would fit with any program they might have. No firm communications were received on this matter by LiA prior to the newsletter insertion. However, an email was sent from SHM to the Godparents’ in question stating that “because of the very conservative cultural and religious environment in Ixtlahuacan, and also because of the Biblican Christian mandate Hope House has been charged with, they have decided not to allow homosexual individuals to have visitation or act as “godparents” with the boys”.* The LiA Board believes this was why the article was written in the newsletter in first place.
The Love in Action Board pulled the article from its website: the article didn’t have full Board approval and we needed to learn:
1) the specific circumstances that lead to the news item being released,
2) the rationale for the decision which SHM and/or HH had taken.
In our desire to clarify the situation between Hope House and Love in Action, our two programs as well as communications between all parties concerned, the Hope House and Love in Action Boards of Directors met on March 15th.
The Differences between the Adopt a Child Program and the Godparent Program:
The Adopt a Child Program is purely a program for financial donations and this is the program in effect covering the boys at Hope House through its affiliation with SHM. Therefore, the Love in Action Godparent program does not fit the model of the SHM’s program and child visitations or taking the child off Hope House’s premises will not be permitted.
The Present Situation:
The emails received from representatives from Shepherd Heart Ministries and Hope House could have been communicated in a much more sensitive way; however these emails were sent directly to the Godparents and LiA had no opportunity to review these emails prior to being sent. Recently we have also learned from Hope House that financial contributions to their shelter have been seriously curtailed. Many of the boys at Hope House were originally from LiA and this will have an impact on all of the boys due to the difficulties this shelter now faces. Both shelters provide support for disadvantaged children, although Hope House and Love in Action may perform that role differently. We trust your hearts and love for these children will allow you to work through this difficult situation for the benefit of all parties concerned.
We do hope that this has clarified much of the misinformation that is currently circulating. In ending this newsletter, let us be mindful of:
“Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.”
John Hume,
1998 Nobel Peace Prize Winner
1999 Defender of Democracy Award
2001 Gandhi Peace Prize
Love in Action Board
Posted 5 months, 2 weeks ago. Add a comment
News for March 2010
“We hit a home run!”
“I’m utterly speechless! How we ALL pulled that off is amazing.” Love in Action Garden Party Co-Chair Bonnie Newman was absolutely overwhelmed at the tremendous success of the first major fund raiser chaired by Bonnie and Michael Schaible. The February 21st event sold over 500 tickets and with all expenses donated raised $152,500 pesos (and still counting) for the Center. Congratulations to Bonnie, Michael and their Committee of Moonie King, Sylvia Tsjui, Weezie Burgess, Patti Mutter and Wayne Renz.
Thanks to the many volunteers including Rob and Terri Kehler and the many others who worked so hard on this event. Thanks also to musicians Jerry Forman, Lindsay Spec, Patteye Simpson, Paul Brier, Jimmy Barto, Don Lott, and Teresita Hernandez Ortega. And thanks again to Kim at Chili Bang and Four, and to Lupita at Paninos.
The Committee is already considering ideas for a Fall Fund-Raiser. Send along your suggestions to Bonnie Newman at bonniemck@gmail.com
Singing Group
Katie B. Goode has offered to teach a small group of children songs and some movement, with the hope they will eventually become polished enough to sing around Lakeside to promote awareness of LiA. She will work with Jerry Forman, music coordinator and Jimmy Barto has offered to make a practice CD for the group. Katie is currently looking for a volunteer pianist to assist the group. If you can assist, contact Katie at ktbgoode@gmail.com
Training Program for Girls 6-10
Anabel Frutos is currently conducting training to mould the character of the children at the Shelter. There are 40 different values which will be taught over the next year. The first part of the training program involves:
- Respect - for self, respect for others, respect for others’ property or items.
- Obedience – listening to the instruction given and promply complying without any negative attitude.
- Order – having things in order, tidying up, use of time and on-time schedule.
Feedback from Godparents on how this training is making a difference in the behavior of their godchildren will be appreciated.
Chapala Review Monthly Column
As of February 2010, Love in Action has a monthly column published in the Chapala Review. In February’s column outlined the basis of the Center and called for volunteers in all areas. The upcoming March column will highlight our youngest children and their needs including descriptions of the “Loving Arms” and “Club Ninos” volunteer programs which need volunteers to assist with our infants. Suggestions for upcoming columns are welcome. Contact the Newsletter and Column Editor Robin Lawrason at jim2rob@gmail.com. The Column also appears in the News section of the Love in Action website as listed below.
Kudos for Donations:
Over the past months, many people have donated food, medicine, furniture, and other items for the children and the operation of the Center. We wish to thank as many as possible and request that those in the know, contact the Newsletter Editor so we can see that they get recognized.
For example, the “Comida Project” enlists volunteers who come in each week donating, preparing and serving comida. Volunteers include Weezie and Jim Burgess, Marcia and Larry Lavender, Marti and Steve McBride, Rollo Storey, Johnny Phillips and Jill and John Matthews. Jerry Foreman and Paul Brier provide music during the Monday lunches. More help is needed to provide nutritious lunches for our children each day.
Thanks too to those donating medications for the Center including Ric Basulto and Jim Lloyd. Also, thanks to Jim who donated a 50 inch TV set for the sala.
And on behalf of the boys, a special thanks to the Chris Rathwell family in Canada who came to their rescue and supplied the money to replace the termite-infested roof in their dormitory. It was an accident waiting to happen.
The LIA Newsletter is published each month. It is also published on the Love in Action Center Website under “News” at http://loveinactioncenter.org If you have items you would like to include, names to add to our Mailing List or thank you list, or if you wish to unsubscribe from this list, please contact jim2rob@gmail.com
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