Living at Lake Chapala in Mexico

Good evening,

Tomorrow morning will be one week since the disaster hit San Juan Cosala and Racquet Club. Much progress has been made in this last week by all the first responders, Military, Police, Emergency and Utility crews, but much more needs to be done and those affected are still living, not only with the physical changes to their homes, but to the emotional stress of experiencing such a catastrophic disaster. If you know of someone who needs emotional help, please email helpsanjuancosala@gmail.com.

Today, after a week, the emails I am receiving have slowed and therefore, my updates. I will continue to send updates, albeit not as frequent. I will, however, as I receive new information, it to Judy King immediately. So if you want more frequent updates, please check her blog address. http://www.mexico-insights.com/judysblog/blog.htm

Today, I have received two emails from Phyllis Rauch. She and her Nestipac neighbors got together and cooked a meal for 100 people yesterday and another today. Supplies to feed 100 people for two days cost her $1,300 to $1,500 pesos. She and her Nestipac neighbors would be happy to continue cooking, but they need some financial support.

For more information see the blog entry below. I spoke to Catherine Saucedo tonight, she tells me that when the cooked food arrives; the workers (volunteers) are taking food to locals who cannot cook at home.

Some children went back to school today, and most will be going back tomorrow as directed by the school board. The schools are issuing paper face masks to the children to help prevent disease. Catherine talked to one secondaria student, who said her class room was clean, but that there was still a lot of mud around it.

Diana and Martin Mayland are helping clean the village. They report there is a great need for storage containers for people to put their remaining belongings. Most of the people affected by this disaster had to throw out their cupboards that stored food and dishes. They need any type storage containers to put things that survived the flood in such as, large plastic containers, garbage cans, garbage bags and any kind of storage cabinet that you could give.

The next Racquet Club meeting will be at noon this weekend, hopefully at the club house.

Thanks to Catherine Saucedo, Diana and Martin Mayland, and Phyllis Rauch. Also, many thanks to Judy King, her blog has been a wealth of information...she has been most helpful!

Today's Needs List:
Below is a list of needed supplies needed, the organizations collecting, contacts, and how you can help! All items marked with an asterisk (*) and in bold are new information, so please be sure and read these notations. I have included all other information for your convenience, so you do not have to refer back to older emails.

Please do not give donations to unknown persons.

These items can now be taken directly to San Juan Cosala to the square where you will be directed to the drop off office.
*large plastic storage containers
*garbage cans
*garbage bags
*disposable plates
*disposable bowls
*disposable glasses
*disposable large spoons
Shoes
Underwear
diapers
(Only the above clothing items, please no other)
Boxed milk
Bath Towels
Shampoo (individual, small sizes)
Scrub brushes
Soap bars
Soap for washing clothes
Brooms
Mops
Buckets
bottled water
tooth brushes and paste

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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.