SCHOOL SUPPLY COLLECTION / DRIVE

Some of us are helping our friend Andrea Garcia Mariscal, collect basic school supplies and / or the funds to buy them for 250 needy children in Ajijic. If we collect more than we need, then Andrea will add more
needy kids to the list.

Any cash that is donated, will go to buy wholesale lots in Guadalajara.  Several kind people also contributed to a PayPal account, to buy wholesale lots of pencils and pens off of eBay, that I will be bringing back to Ajijic on the 24th of July.

Meanwhile, if you would like to donate money or supplies, you can take them to

1) Libby at the Guadalajara Reporter office in Plaza Bugambilias, between 10am -
3pm Monday thru Friday.

2) Galeria Quattro on Colon, between 11am and 6pm with Salvador.

3) July 21st, Andrea and her husband Tonio Gonzalez Heredia, will be heading up
a collection of supplies (or funds) at the kiosko in the middle of the Ajijic
Plaza, from 12pm - 6pm. This has been cleared with our Delegado, Hector.  

The distribution of the supplies will take place on July 28th, a Sunday, also at
the kiosko in the plaza, since school begins on August 5th.

What the children really need are the BASIC SUPPLIES for Primaria (primary
school), grades 1 through 6. If you have even used pens and pencils and
miscellaneous office supplies around the house that you don't need, they are
very welcome...

Here is what is needed:

Notebooks - lined, double lined, and squares
Pencils
Pens - Black, Blue, Red
Erasers
Pencil Sharpeners
Colored Pencils (any will do)
Geometry sets (Rulers, Half moons, Triangles, compasses)

Thanks so much to all of you; will let those of you who might want to help bag etc.
know when we'll be doing that.

P.S.  Many of you know that free education for all doesn't really exist in Mexico.  Those people with two or three or more kids in school, face extreme hardship.  Schools charge an inscription fee (a quota)....in our area, just for primary school it runs between 250 and 400 pesos.  Parents are usually asked to provide money on a monthly or every few months basis, through the Junta (like a PTA).  These funds are all theoretically used to repair schools, purchase toilet paper and other supplies, etc.  Then of course there are the uniforms and gym clothes, books, and school supplies.  If you are a wise shopper you might be able to get a basic package of school supplies for 60 pesos, usually more like 70 to 90.  Buying wholesale is of course the way to go.  Another interesting point that some of you are not aware of is if a child does NOT have a uniform, he/she is not admitted to school.  Sad commentary.

Thanks for posting this, I have been saving pens given to us by the pharmaceutical reps , I have a freaking LOT of pens .
Those fees are illegal and such a hardship for so many. I hope people will help out with this...hooray for the convenient collection centers

Mil gracias Ms. Thang....somehow I knew we could count on you!!!!

Bump....This is importante folks. Help if you can. Columbia beat much of the violence problems through education. Grade school is the first step here and we need to get
as many kids into the process to succeed. Well its my opinion and the changes in Columbia
are impressive. Its all about educating the people.

Z

Zedinmexico wrote:Bump....This is  importante folks. Help if you can. Columbia beat much of the violence problems through education. Grade school is the first step here and we need to get
as many kids into the process to succeed. Well its my opinion and the changes in Columbia
are impressive. Its all about educating the people.

Z

Thank you Zed, exactly! Education is the basis for everything.....

Bump

So far we've raised enough to buy 1200 blue pens; 1000 lead pencils; 144 erasers.  With the rest of what has been raised I think we will be able to purchase about 500 to 600 spiral notebooks in Guadalajara.  We still need funds - or in kind - for the 'expensive' geometry sets.  At Walmart they were 33p and I think we can buy them wholesale in Guadalajara for about 25p, perhaps a bit less. Also need more spiral notebooks, red and black pens, and boxes of colored pencils. Zed you are an angel for keeping this at the forefront.  R

Mielicita my wife son is a Diplomat for the US state department in Columbia and we all saw
over the years the positive changes in Coumbia by educating everyone to read and write. I
will give you 500P to start. PM me to arrange for you to get the Pesos.

I also urge people to help the older kids stay in High School. It is very hard even with a
scholarship for many families to pay for transportation, Food. It also helps the older kids
to have a computer and internet access. They are much more likely to finish if they have
a computer. Sorry end of commercial.

Z

Bump Again

How about it folks. Anything helps. Old pens that work. Pads of paper. partially
used spiral notebooks.  Hey they need everything folks. We can't supply all the
needs for folks on the list and others are waiting to get on the list. School may
be free now but Uniforms and school supplies are not. 

Sorry to bug you folks but if one more kid gets help......

Z