WHAT WE CAN DO FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS

Donations of goods are being accepted at the DIF in Chapala until November 18th.

http://guadalajarareporter.com/expat-living-mainmenu-91/lake-chapala-mainmenu-51/community-news-mainmenu-64/29940-chapala-dif-collects-goods-for-jova-victims.html

Could government be any more screwed up... http://guadalajarareporter.com/news-mainmenu-82/regional-mainmenu-85/29879-jova-relief-package-stalls-in-congress.html

And another... http://guadalajarareporter.com/news-mainmenu-82/regional-mainmenu-85/29923-governor-sidesteps-congress-for-jova-loan.html

After reading the above, I wonder why there isn't a relief fund bank account or equivalency where people can donate the desperately needed MONEY required to repair damaged homes and infrastructure. Even buying the food and personal products needed LOCALLY would stimulate the economy there...JMHO...YMMV

On Thursday, my sister in law and her husband distributed some despensas in an area that I had visited earlier. It came very close to getting out of hand. The area in question is on the hillsides behind the town proper in Cihuatlan. Even accompanied by the local head of Desarollo Social, it got a little dicey. It has long been used as a hide out for people that don't want to be found. This is making it difficult for the majority of the residents of that colonia. According to locals, the police rarely visit the area because they feel it is too risky. Would have been nice to know this beforehand.

That's not good at all ferret, what is going on here. My understanding was that the government had provided food and clothing.

I agree that local spending would be a better solution, however we're still waiting for more info from Solo.

BTW did you have any luck with the tarps and soccer balls? I didn't make it in due to neck trouble, but will hopefully be headed in tomorrow, fingers crossed.

I see you're here Solo, do you have any info yet on the Maestra, or a phone number? I think a lot of people would probably prefer to donate money, it's easier.

I won't be able to find anything out until Monday.

Another article which seems to have a differing slant - from INFORMADOR:
http://www.informador.com.mx/primera/2011/335686/6/jova-golpea-el-autoconsumo-en-cuautitlan.htm

@Neil,
The article is referring to rural areas whose corn fields have been destroyed. It is estimated that the fields will not recover for 6 or 7 months. Apparently despensas are being distributed to these areas every few days. Not too much regarding the actual town of Cihuatlan. These guys have also had serious damage to their water system. So, for them no food which they normally supply for themselves, and serious water problems which they can't afford to fix.

@Solo, Thanks, as soon as you can, no huge rush.

@ferret, no luck with crayons etc, however basic despensas are available at Sam's for 99 pesos. BTW there were a bunch of those window cleaning gizmos pretty similar to the ones Neil mentioned for 109 pesos at Costco.

Big question, do these people deserve our help? Or should we just throw them to the wolves? Serious question. Did God pick on them because they deserved it? How about messing up a tourist resort? Screwing up the pristine jungles?
I know, cooking rice properly is more important. So are bees wax candles, which I, in a moment of weakness gave in to.
Maybe it's the environment we should be thinking about?
What about the kids? Will they be our next cartel members in a few years because nobody gave a rats?
How about the old people? There aren't any ice floes in Mexico.

17 pages on one gringo homeless guy. Nothing for 500 families.

That's quite an assumption you just made Raqueteer. How do you know that people haven't already taken donations to the DIF in Chapala? I, for one, am waiting on information (OFFICIAL information) on where to send funds or donate funds in a manner that will assure they arrive in the area for which they are intended. That is a failing on the part of the Government...the government that we, as foreigners, cannot criticize.

I apologize for sounding jaded but, after discussion with friends and my own personal experiences, I'm in a holding pattern. There are innumerable charities needing help lakeside...how do you make a decision on which need you wish to contribute to?

I had posted previously that donations can be sent to the Casa de la Cultura in Cihuatlán in care of maestra Celia Pulido. I was then asked for her phone number which I haven't been able to acquire up until this moment. The director of Desarollo Social in Cihuatlan is C. P. Javier Gómez. When my wife talked with him today he was in Guadalajara on official business with SEDESOL. He said he would try to get a number for la maestra Celia when he returned to the coast.

No one is holding a gun to anyone's head here. If you want to donate then do so. If not, then don't. The victims of Jova appreciate any assistance provided. Cual es el problema? Yes, there are problems with organizing the relief effort but from what I have observed, the local Cihuatlan government is doing the best they can with the resources provided. When we drove through Cihuatlan yesterday there were groups of organized volunteers throughout the town helping with the clean up and delivering needed aid. People gave up their one day off from work yesterday to push brooms and shovel dirt. I will also try to find out who is in charge of those groups. These things take time.

simpsca wrote:

gringal wrote:The coastal area stays pretty warm year round. Basics like t-shirts, shorts and other cottons would be needed.

OK, maybe Solovino could tell us where this is located - I know near the coast but don't know exactly were - and if I drum up donors they will want to know where.

Sorry simpsca, I wasn't intentionally ignoring your question. Cihuatlan is located at the very southern edge of the Jalisco coast. It is right alongside the Marabasco River which forms the border between Jalisco and Colima, about 15 minutes from the Manzanillo airport. The small beach towns of Barra de Navidad and Melaque/San Patricio are located within this municipality. But the aid will not be going to those villages.

I know that you are doing all that you can Solovino and it is appreciated. I also understand your reluctance to take donations...trust me, I really get that. I believe what I (and others) are looking for is a bank in which to deposit funds for the victims. I'm sure not gonna send a cheque to Celia at Casa de Cultura in Cihuatlan...it's way too vague and I would never put a cheque in the mail in Mexico anyway...eso es el problema.

I can completely understand not sending cash. I wasn't aware of anyone on the board wanting to do so. I thought it was tarps, and other goods, etc. I'll ask about a cash account for Jova victims.

ferret wrote:That's quite an assumption you just made Raqueteer. How do you know that people haven't already taken donations to the DIF in Chapala? I, for one, am waiting on information (OFFICIAL information) on where to send funds or donate funds in a manner that will assure they arrive in the area for which they are intended. That is a failing on the part of the Government...the government that we, as foreigners, cannot criticize.

I apologize for sounding jaded but, after discussion with friends and my own personal experiences, I'm in a holding pattern. There are innumerable charities needing help lakeside...how do you make a decision on which need you wish to contribute to?

No problem ferret, I am also feeling jaded, especially after seeing a number of troll posts.

Here's how I look at it.
1. I don't know where the DIF is in Chapala, and would like detailed instructions on how to get there, because I have a lot of stuff to drop off.
2. Innumerable charities lakeside, which I have over the years been involved with. A number of them promote learned helplessness. As did one which I donated a great deal of stuff to, and paid for it to be delivered. 3 truck loads to be precise. I later discovered that a fairly high number of people were, despite being totally looked after, out on the street panhandling. Furthermore, when I went over to help the overworked staff, not one of these people would even pick up their plate, we had to serve them, then clean up afterwards. So, let's say that at this time,in my opinion, YMMV, the people most in need are on the coast.
3. Agree, I would never send a cheque to an individual, which is why I'd like a number for the maestra. I think that there probably is a trust fund, and I'd like to send a cheque or do a bank transfer so that a number of things can be bought locally.
4. As for the holding pattern I am also but don't want this important subject to disappear as it did on TOB onto page 3 where it will never be seen again. I think you might have noticed that yourself.
5. People who have nothing, including shelter, and this is just my opinion, to me are the people who deserve as much help as we are able to give. I have been endlessly frustrated in the past by donating to various charities and then watching in horror as it became apparent that none of that aid was being delivered.
6. Local businesses in the area are not in much of a position to help right now.
7. There is not a huge ex-pat community over there. Furthermore, I'm not criticizing the government, they do a fine job providing the basics. We, as gringos who have houses full of extra stuff which we're not using, can do a lot to help them with all the things they're going to need in order to rebuild their lives.

Think I'll have a coffee now.