Living at Lake Chapala in Mexico

Donations:

Please do not take donations to the square in Ajijic! Now Take donations directly to San Juan Cosalá. This will help expedite the distribution process.

The authorities request that you do not hand items out on the street take them inside the donation center. This is to ensure that the aid is given out evenly, with no preference being shown to anyone.

And definitely, do not give directly to someone you do not know.

Help from Tequila --- Wednesday, September 19
We have not yet been able to confirm the report from Jose Manuel Vega of the Jocotepec public works department to Phyllis Rauch Wednesday, that busloads of aid workers were on their way from Tequila on Wednesday. They were to use the cots, blankets etc. which were first needed for the citizens of SJC .

Whether they have come or not, there are workers in SJC that need to be fed, and many residents who still are unable to cook at home. These next few weeks will be a time of continuing clean up. There is no extra money in the Jocotepec budget for this. Please, whoever is able, think of this as an ongoing major potluck (the distribution center being the Viva Mexico Restaurant in SJC a block beyond the church. (The police will lead you there if you don't know where it is).

This heavy phase of the clean-up and rebuilding work will be going on for at least 3-4 weeks and these hardworking men and women need to be fed! Cooked and flavored rice, beans, spaghetti, (with some protein added) chili, coleslaw, covered dishes with chicken or meat, garrafones of agua fresca (fruit waters), cartons of juices.When cooking for these volunteers think in large amounts. If you want to donate uncooked food to Phyllis and her Nestipac neighbors, she will pass it on to the women who are cooking and then transporting food to SJC. You can contact Phyllis Rauch directly at rauchlosdos@yahoo.com 387-763-0657

The urgency is still there and it is even more important now to continue our support while people return and rebuild their lives, homes and work. There will be some shifts in efforts-one of which is to relieve the relief workers. One of the greatest needs right now is some relief for the very exhausted, and stretched to the limits staff and volunteers at Lupitas restaurant in San Juan Cosalá.

They have been cooking for a week now approximately 1000 meals a day for the workers and residents of San Juan Cosalá. Many donations of food have been made, but at this stage they need food that is already cooked and ready to serve. Pots of stew, protein-based soups, would be perfect-cooked beans, rice and cooked veggies also.

Part of the problem is that they do not have a kitchen built for producing this quantity of food as well as the fact that it is labor intensive and they are just plain worn out! It would be ideal if a group or neighborhood could get together and buy and cook large quantities of foods to be delivered in disposable containers along with disposable utensils and plates or bowls to serve the food on. This need will continue for a while. If you are able to organize a group to do this, please keep us informed at helpsanjuancosala@gmail.com. Maybe another group could trade off and coordinate with Phyllis (her email is above).

Individuals can do this also, any cooked food will be appreciated! Lupitas is located 2 blocks west (towards Jocotepec) on the road at the bottom of the square in SJC on the mountain side of the road. Ask anyone on the street and they will point out the way. The distribution center at the school above the church in SJC was closed as of last night. The new center is located at 121-A La Paz.

Directions: Take the street the school and church are on (and the plaza) and drive towards the lake. Take the last street, at the other primary school, to your left (La Paz) and go down about two and a half blocks. As of today, the distribution center no longer needs rice and beans. They received a generous donation of 20 costales of rice and of beans, amongst other things, from the Fundacion Jose Cuervo.

What is still needed: (Please Think Individuals, Not Large Bulk, unless you are donating items listed below for feeding volunteers and others that still may be in need).

Canned Goods - tuna, sardines, chilorio, other meats; vegetables
small tins of tomato paste or sauce
Soup - packages to make soup for at least a few people and NOT Cup-a-Noodles/Marukan which only feed one person.
Long-life milk
boxed Diapers - always diapers
Laundry detergent
Bath soap
Shampoo (individual, small sizes)
Toothpaste and toothbrushes
Combs and Brushes
Brooms and Mops
Brushes for Cleaning/Scrubbing
Cleaning supplies - Clorox/Fabuloso etc. in small packages
Buckets
School Supplies - pens, pencils, sharpeners, notebooks of all sizes
(lined, unlined, graph) and other items including children's backpacks

Bottled water
Shoes
Underwear
(Only the above clothing items, please no other)

These are needed in large quantities to feed workers:
disposable plates
disposable bowls
disposable glasses
disposable large spoons

For storage of items that survived this diaster:
Large plastic storage containers
Garbage cans
Garbage bags

Please remember that "dispensas" or family packs are being handed out each four days to the families most affected by the emergency. It is hard to break down large containers and the preference is for smaller items, that will last a family of four or five for several days.

Racquet Club News: The Racquet Club office is now open 8 - 5 daily albeit with a temporary cell phone for communication as phone lines are still out in several areas in the neighborhood. The temporary number from a land line is: 045 333 968 0169. If calling from another cell omit the 045.

It could realistically be approximately 10 to 14 days before the water lines are up and running.
There are water trucking companies in the area if residents need to replenish their aljijbe before the water gets up and going. Two of the companies telephone numbers are:

Gil 376 766-3753
Name Unknown - 387 761-0372 or their cell is 045 331 413-0313

Residents should get water replenished before it gets too low - there will be silt and debris in the bottom of the aljibe which could be sucked up into the lines.

Also do not forget to turn your water intake off from the street - when they do start up the pumps there will be a large amount of silt and that will also plug your lines. Jose Flores, Francisco Gomez and the State of Jalisco are currently working tirelessly to clear the streets and to clear driveways for residents to have access out of the Raquet Club. Francisco Gomez and Jose Flores have been evaluating some of the homes as to their needs and then prioritizing the work needing to be done to give them access to get out. If you still cannot get out of your home with your car please contact helpsanjuancosala@gmail.com and they will arrange with Francisco and/or Jose to see what they can do.

A Critical Incident psychotherapist has volunteered to work with residents for free who feel affected by this traumatic experience. Please email helpsanjuancosala@gmail.com to contact her to deal with the common reactions of fear and shock. All inquiries will be held in confidence. This woman is trained in helping specifically those who have been through a disaster.

"What is DIF?"
DIF is like Social Services in the U.S.

They are government run and have a variety of programs (health, nutrition, pre-school, etc) to help those in need. Some of these include: scholarships for children, health services for all, education for adults, etc. These programs are set up based on need and the limited government available.

Thanks to Jayme Littlejohn, Phyllis Rauch, Norm Pifer, and Judy King for the above information.

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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.