Living at Lake Chapala in Mexico

Note: Photos in this post were taken by Judy Dykstra-Brown for her eye-witness account of the first two days after the SJC storm from her vantage point home between the two giant arroyos in the Raquet Club. Her article will be published in the "Heath and Safety" column of the October issue of Living at Lake Chapala at http://www.mexico-insights.com/

The muncipality will be reviewing and revisiting the affected population. This will provide a current realistic list of needs for this affected population. We need to remember that:

Unfortunately, the needs and problems created by the mud and rock slides and flooding will not go away, and only serve to exacerbate the already difficult situations (financial and social) facing much of that population.

Fundacion Jose Cuervo continues to support the efforts (they have provided dispensas, new clothing, and girls underwear and thongs) by delivering 300 dispensas to the Distribution Center at 121-A La Paz in San Juan Cosalá. This infusion has helped enormously. The center still has a lot of items, for use after these dispensas are handed out.

There are approximately 150 workers (paid and volunteer) still in San Juan Cosalá, digging out, cleaning, keeping the peace, evaluating and more. They are expected to be there for another week.

Augustin of Tia Lupita stopped feeding them as of Saturday. He was one of the biggest supporters during the emergency, but he and his 10 helpers need rest. He's offered the use of his restaurant and equipment to the municipality if they will just continue the effort. After next week he work at getting his own business back to its "new" normal. See the interview with Augustin on day 10 when he and his family-staff had already served 20,0o0 meals, working 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the other blog posted today.

Noe, the San Juan Cosalá Delegado (Town Administrator) and his family will be preparing food through this week for them. In addition, Phyllis Rauch and her group of women who cooked all last week, will continue to provide hot food for comida (lunch). Today, it is big pots of something, tomorrow 100 tamales, and so on for the rest of the week.

A huge fundraiser is being planned for San Juan Cosalá, on the 21st and 22nd of October. Venues such as Ruben's, Tia Lupita, and the Coffee Shop will have live music, food and dancing. There will be more music, art, and activities on the plaza, at AMSIF, Hospitalita, and elsewhere. Many groups and individuals are already onboard.

This is the brainchild of Brenda Carol, and as a one-woman dervish, she's already got it well organized. We'll be meeting today to see what else will be needed. I'll confirm times later, and may be asking for volunteer help. Stay tuned.

This fundraiser will be two weeks after the multi-band concert being held at the the Lienzo Charro in Ajijic on Oct. 6th with another program planned the following day in San Juan Cosala on Oct. 7th. More about these activities as they evolve.

Also note that there is a group already raising money and goods for the School for Ninos y Jovenes. They have a website up and are in daily contact with Father Beto. In addition, there are other groups and individuals providing support, in various ways. I'll post more information about them this afternoon.

I understand from LCS, that they are hoping to purchase the kids' school uniforms for those that need them with the donations they have remaining. A "census" will be taken in the two primary schools and the Secundaria beginning today, to determine the exact needs, sex, sizes, colors etc.

The Secundaria SHOULD have opened Monday .

Suffice it to say that Help San Juan Cosalá, our committee, is making an effort to coordinate information between the entities/people so that we don't duplicate efforts and can maximize the donations.

NEEDS LISTS AS of September 24 for Ninos y Jovenes:

***Please note that this is Padre Beto's school in SJC --- he prefers people to refer to the school as Ninos y Jovenes and not as an Orphanage!

Personal Hygiene Packets - large gallon sized baggies filled with Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Soap, Deoderant, shampoo, comb, brush.

Towels and Washclothes

100 meters of 1 1/2 inch Garden Hose

5 Soccer Balls #6

New Shoes and Socks

2nd PHASE WISH LIST

Clean and Paint..............Build Two Walls

Mattresses and Bed Linens

ONGOING WEEKLY NEEDS

Cleaning Supplies

Toilet Paper

Canned Foods

Meat

Fruit

Thanks to Jayme Littlejohn and Robin Ziebert for information for this post.