Living at Lake Chapala in Mexico

Today, at the two-week mark, with San Juan Cosalá is now out of an emergency situation I am now sending you information on what different organizations are doing to help as I receive them. This will help you know how you can help.

San Juan Cosalá still needs our help, but the needs are shifting. The newly founded Help San Juan Cosalá is helping to coordinate with organizations and officials. Please see Robin Ziebert's message below.

Let's give our organizations, individual volunteers (both foreign and mexican), companies, and all levels of the Mexican Government a CHEER! for all their donations and effort to help San Juan Cosalá.

Norm Pifer, President of Volunteers de Cruz Roja sent the following information:
Cruz Roja International Volunteers Chapala announced on Tuesday that through the North of the border non-profit group CRIVC,INC and local volunteer collections, $135,000 pesos have been donated for the relief effort. These monies pass through the Damas (women's auxillary) and the Juventudes (youth volunteers) of Cruz Roja Chapala as mandated by law. They will determine, in consultation with San Juan Cosalá local authorities, precisely who qualifies for ongoing despensas of food and necessary school supplies and assemble them, along with a contingent of international volunteers, and deliver directly to those in need.

With donations slowing, the international volunteers feel this sizeable effort will help extend the period of adjustment for those effected. Further donations can be made on the web site www.cruzrojachapala.com or at Lake Chapala Society. Please specify if your donation is for San Juan Cosalá or ongoing support of Cruz Roja Chapala.

Robyn Ziebert who is working with the Help San Juan Cosalá sent the following:
I'll keep my own updates coming every few days, now that the emergency is over. We're into the transition to the reconstruction efforts, but aid is still needed and will continue to be a necessity for the long term.

If you want to donate any in-kind items, they can take it to 121-A La Paz, in San Juan Cosalá. This is the Associación Para Un Mejor Mundo, although there is no name on the front. It's the last street down in San Juan Cosalá, just before the lake. Take the road that goes past the Balnearios to 121-A, it's on the right. You can also take the street that goes past the school, church and plaza, from the carretera down to La Paz. Take a left at La Paz (another primary school will be on your left on that corner) two blocks to 121-A.

What is still needed is bottled water and larger sized NEW bras...36, 38, 40, 42. Canned goods are of course helpful, and will continue to be needed as they make the "dispensas" to be handed out.

Judy Boyd, Board member, Lakeside Friends of the Animals A.C. sent the following:
Reports from San Juan Cosalá residents tell us that there are many animals displaced by the disaster. Lakeside Friends of the Animals A.C. (see http://www.lakesideanimalfriends.org) is purchasing dog and cat food and distributing it through Anita Strehlow at Anita's Animals.

People in San Juan Cosalá can get free food from Anita to feed displaced animals in the town. It is better for them to feed them where they are for now; there is no way that the local shelter facilities can take all the animals made homeless by the disaster.

Donations of pet food are still being accepted at the Animal Shelter in Riberas del Pilar. (People can help shelter animals at the same time by buying the food at the shelter store.) We are delivering the donated pet food and will continue to do so.

Thanks to Judy, Robin, and Norm for the latest updates!

Again, I'd like to personally thank Judy King. Judy's blog has been a continuing source of information. Judy, thanks for all the information and your kindness!

Betty

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Judy King is publisher of  Mexico Insights' Living at Lake Chapala, a monthly online magazine for people interested in Mexico's Lake Chapala region, in the state of Jalisco.

Judy, a 16-year resident of Ajijic on Lake Chapala's north shore, conducts weekly newcomer's seminars, shares her expertise about Mexico in her monthly online magazine, and in the "Mexico Lindo" column for the Lake Chapala Review.

Judy also is a speaker for local organizations and visiting tour groups about the Lakeside area and Mexican customs and holidays.