Project Hacienda

$13,000 RE Cares Grant awarded to CDV

2009-09-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

Corazon de Vida has been awarded $13,000 from an RE Cares grant. This money will be used in the 2009/2010 school year for tuition, uniforms and transportation for a total of 100 students from Hacienda, LaRoca and Casa de Paz. Elsevier RE Cares is proud to be a corporate sponsor for Corazon de Vida.

San Diego RE CaREs Receives Award

2007-10-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

Corazon de Vida's 2007 Child Sponsorship Dinner was held this past weekend. It was a wonderful fund raising event at the Mission San Juan Capistrano. San Diego RE CaREs received the Community Partnership Recognition Award for Project Hacienda. I was so proud to represent such a wonderful group of heart felt volunteers and donators here at Elsevier, Harcourt and EPS.

CDV and SD CaREs thanks you for all of your efforts of putting a little more hope in the lives of the Hacienda children!

Rena Cuadras, San Diego Re CaREs Chair and Champion

Back Pack and Kindergarten Tuition Drive

2007-10-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

We kicked off the backpack drive and the collection was over whelming. All San DiegoReCaREs divisions donated. Harcourt collected $550 with a cleaver idea. Employees placed $20 towards a backpack and placed it on a wonderful art display done by Jen Jackman.

$330 was used towards the backpacks and $220 was donated and matched to $500 and provided five tuitions for the kindergarteners. All together we collected over 75 backpacks and enough for the 11 kindergarten tuitions.

Special thanks to Cassondra Hudson at Sears Essentials in Mission Valley. (She Rocks!) Our goals were met and more, by the generosity once again from San Diego RE CaREs employees!

Update on Camp Collegio

2007-09-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Camp Collegio was put in place this summer and has been a success. A teacher was hired to teach computer classes and has enabled Roy and Elena to win a school contest using their computer skills. Reading and studying in their new/clean room is more enjoyable. The Secondaria and Prepa sudents are expected to have internet access soon to do their homework. Also as a treat, manners classes were given and upon their completion included a dinner at a restaurant. This was well received by the students, as they sat down like gentlemen and ladies and had a wonderful time together.

Our future plans include enhancing the Library at Camp Collegio!

ReCaREs Second Trip to Hacienda

2007-08-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

We rounded up again for a second ReCaREs trip to Project Hacienda. 23 RE employees and some family members attended.

On this trip we spent more time interacting with the children. We had a great chilli dog lunch and did some art projects. And as always they love taking pictures. Allison brought down a p0loroid camera and LOTS of film so that each child would have their own picture to keep. A great time was had by all and looking forward to more trips in the future. See more pictures.

Thank you to all who volunteered!

Registration Now Open for August 23 Trip to Hacienda!

2007-07-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

We're very excited to announce that registration for the next RE-employee trip to the Hacienda orphanage with Corazon de Vida--which will take place on Thursday, August 23--is now open! To register for the trip, please visit:

https://www.sporg.com/registration?link_type=reg_info&form_id=253FD15879

(Please note that registrants need to check the $0.00 trip fee box in order for the system to process.)

As on the last trip, family and friends are welcome to come along.

And, of course, please be sure to get your manager's approval to participate. Since this trip takes place on a regular business day, RE employees can use one of their "Two Days Off" to attend this unique and rewarding event. (Please check with your local HR rep or RE Cares Champion if you're unsure of the procedure for requesting "Two Days" time off.)

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Rena Cuadras at r.cuadras@elsevier.com.

Anyone interested in going to Hacienda this Saturday?

2007-07-17T15:10:00.000-07:00

Anyone interested in going to Hacienda this Saturday? Apogee Electronics thought they would have more people but we still have about 10 seats open. Link is here if anyone is interested in joining us. A very fun group....Ford Models and Apogee employees (Apogee and a couple of other donors just bought Hacienda a van!). San Diego Pickup would be East Mission Bay/Claremont around 8:15am.
https://www.sporg.com/registration?link_type=reg_info&form_id=ED70DD0EA4

Updates from Hacienda

2007-07-13T15:39:00.000-07:00

Many good things are happening at the Hacienda de la Inmaculada:

New 15 Passenger Van:

A 2004 15-passenger van was donated on July 8 to the Hacienda. They will keep their existing van to transport supplies and use the new van for children only. This van has AC, CD player, seat belts and new tires. The orphanage name and verse will be painted on the sides.

Teacher Assistants:

High School students Ana Cristina and Patricia are doing classes M-F from 7:30 AM to 12 noon. The first thing they do is help brush the teeth of each child after breakfast and get them into the habit of keeping good dental health. They do one-on-one training for 1 hour on a few students that are behind in their studies and teach a group of kinder and grades 1-4 on math, writing, reading and other basics. The feedback from Madre, the teachers and students is 100% positive.

Primary School Graduation:

On Monday July 9, three students graduated from primary school - Carlos Eduardo, Maria and Irazema. They participated in the ceremonies and received their diplomas. A total of 6 students will be going to secondary school in late August.

Long Term Help:

A team of 4 Mennonites arrived this week to help. They will scrub floors, clean toilets, do laundry, change diapers, wash dishes and much more. They will stay for at least four weeks. In mid August, 2 missionaries are arriving for the long term to help with child support, administration and over all day in/day out orphanage care.

George Perez
Corazon de Vida Foundation

Camp Colegio Update from Hacienda

2007-06-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

I was at the Hacienda today for a brief visit.

4 ceiling fans were installed upstairs and 1 installed in the library. Today was a very warm day and it circulated the air nicely. The RE Cares grant is already benefiting the Hacienda children!

The nursery will be moved to where the uniforms are currently as there is more space. A fan will be installed there as well. Attached is a photo of Cristina and Patricia. They will start Monday to help the pre-school and kinder kids.

I will keep you updated.

Thank you very much ...

George Perez
Corazon de Vida Foundation

RE Cares Awards Grant to CDV for Project Hacienda

2007-06-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

Twice annually, charities around the globe have the opportunity to submit grant proposals to Reed Elsevier for support of activities that further the RE Cares mission of education for disadvantaged youth. Often, local RE offices or employees act as the sponsors for the applications. This spring, we submitted an application for funding on behalf of Corazon de Vida, asking RE for $17,500 USD, the remainder of our budget for Camp Colegio (the full budget is $25,000 USD).

Amazingly, the RE Cares Champions from around the globe agreed to fund our application in full! This is such awesome news, and means that so much more is possible for the project, and for the kids of Hacienda. Thank you to everyone who has supported this project, particularly our colleagues from other offices. Your support has literally made all the difference!!

Trip to Hacienda and the Launch of Camp Colegio an Enormous Success!

2007-06-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, June 14 39 RE employees, 9 of their family members, and four representatives from Corazon de Vida visited Hacienda. The employees, both home-based and those from RE offices in Los Angeles and San Diego, came from all divisions of the company.

They brought with them an impressive array of donations, which were put to use interacting with the children and transforming the classroom for the summer's activities.

Before....

And After!

From all accounts, it was a rewarding and fun day for everyone present...

Until Next Time!

Office Depot Matches Donation Order

2007-06-19T22:14:00.000-07:00

When Helena Clarin (Assistant to Sal Gelardi, Sr. VP of Global Bk. Sales & Mktg.) went to place our order for Camp Colegio in the days before our recent trip, she was inspired to try to take it to the next level. Said Helena, "I got excited ordering for them. I want to see those nice shiny red dodge balls going to the kids!" Helena got in touch with her contact at Office Depot, Helen Mazzo, and asked if they might be willing to match our order--and they generously agreed! As you can see, the jump ropes, basketballs, soccer balls, children's scissors, craft supplies and all the other goodies were enjoyed immensely by the orphans and volunteers alike! And the doubled order means twice as much fun for these kids (and lots less fighting over things!).
For many of them, this was the children's first chance to jump rope or shoot hoops.

Huge thanks are in order to...

Sal Gelardi, for generously giving us the chance to go on an Office Depot spending spree for Camp Colegio!

His amazing assistant, Helena Clarin, for going above and beyond in her support of this project!

And most of all to Office Depot, particularly Helen Mazzo and her colleagues, for your inspiring, unquestioning act of goodwill. There is absolutely no doubt that all of the donated supplies will significantly improve these children's lives!

Spanish Children's Books Arrive From NYC Colleagues

2007-06-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

Ximena Diego, Children's Book Review Editor at CRITICAS Magazine, has kindly sent picture books, nonfiction titles and beginning-readers series books for the children at Hacienda. These books will greatly support our 'Camp Colegio' project at the orphanage this summer.
CRITICAS Magazine, An English Speaker's Guide to the Latest Spanish Language Titles, is a Reed Business Information (RBI) publication located in New York City. We'd like to thank our collegues for their generous gift and for supporting our project!

Operations Exec to Donate Ceiling Fans

2007-05-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

Kirsten Chrisman, Vice President/Director of Editorial Production, has generously donated two ceiling fans to Project Hacienda. These will be essential to the success of our summer camp program, Camp Colegio.

Camp Colegio will provide the children with a unique opportunity to strengthen their reading, computer and English-language skills, which will only improve their progress once school resumes in the fall. Components of the project will include tutoring, field trips, two visits from RE employees, ESL and computer instruction, an RE-employee pen-pal program and a summer-long Read-a-Thon. The project will launch with a RE-employee-only bus trip visit to the Hacienda orphanage on June 14, 2007. Employees will get to know the kids and also prepare the schoolroom for summer use.

The improvements to the classroom will include the installation of the donated ceiling fans, which are greatly needed since the space becomes unbearably hot during the summer months. Kirsten's donation not only addresses a pressing need, but also frees up the funds that would have been used to purchase them new.

San Diego Facilities Department to Donate Kitchen Supplies

2007-05-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Facilities department is continually leading by example in the San Diego RE office. When they learn of a need in our community, usually through the efforts of the local Cares committee, they always step up to the plate and find a way to help. For Project Hacienda, they decided to pool their money and purchase desperately needed, restaurant-size kitchen supplies. This weekend, George Perez of Corazon de Vida will meet with the cooks in Hacienda's kitchen to ask them what would most help them continue to make three meals a day for a home of a hundred people.

Led by Julie Stone, Associate Director of Office Services, the Facilities team includes Frank Torres, Leslie Cress, Christina Villegas, Brenda Armenta, Patrick Bowes and Ryan Friel-Neal. They are a great example of a caring group of individuals that chose to work together to make a big difference to the lives of those that call Hacienda home. Yet, if you ask them, they'll most likely tell you it was really easy to do a lot!

"Camp Colegio" Takes Second Place in the 2007 RE Cares Challenge

2007-05-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

We are very happy to announce that our submission in this year's RE Cares Challenge, "Camp Colegio", has won the second place prize of $7,500 USD for Corazon de Vida and Project Hacienda. This money will be used to help implement an education-focused summer camp at Hacienda this summer.

Huge thanks are in order for all of our colleagues around the globe who voted for us. Even though we fell short for first place, your efforts on our behalf are very much appreciated! Below, please enjoy some of the encouraging words we received from supporters near and far...

"Glad to see you are doing this, I went to Mexico this Jan, the kids there are lovely."
Sean Wu
Business Development Manager
Elsevier S&T China

"Great work. Thanks for the email. Hope you win! Got my vote."
Linda L. Wilson
Elsevier
Morristown, New Jersey

"I voted for you. Good luck!"
Mary D Templin
IMNG / ESNG
Rockville, MD

"Just a note to say "Thank you!" to all who staged such a valiant effort to secure Cares grant funding for Hacienda this year. It's wonderful that through Elsevier's partnering with the orphanage it'll receive US$7,500 in support this year. All the kind investment of time and energy by San Diego's Cares Committee will pay off in so many ways!"
Best wishes,
Daria DeCooman
Elsevier
San Diego

Update! Three Hacienda Kids Receive New Eyeglasses

2007-05-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

RE employees in San Diego received a happy start to their weekend with the news that the money they had donated for eyeglasses for three of the residents of Hacienda had been put to good use. Now, thanks to four employees pooling their money to make a contribution of $105 USD (which was subsequently matched through their corporate matching gift program), Sandy, Sandra and Eduardo can now read and play without restriction.

Editor of CRITICAS to Donate Children's Books

2007-05-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

We have a ton of Spanish-language children's books (submitted to Críticas for review) that we would like to donate to Camp Colegio, or more specifically, to the orphanage. Please tell me who we should contact to make arrangements. Many thanks in advance!

Aída Bardales
Editor
CRÍTICAS
360 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10010

"Hacienda Pals" Is A Photo Finalist For A Chance To Win $1000!

2007-05-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

Rena Cuadras’ submission to the Kindness in Focus photo contest is a finalist! (Details on the contest and her submission can be found in the April 30th post below). This means we are just one step away from nabbing the $1,000 donation prize for our non-profit partner, Corazon de Vida! There are 55 finalists, so we need your vote to win! Voting is open to absolutely anyone and closes on May 22.

To vote, Click on http://www.kindnessinfocus.com/ and click on the voting icon (Δ) by the picture titled “Hacienda Pals”.
A bar will pop up for you to join Squidoo.com. Sign up!
At the top right there will be a search box titled "Find a lens on....”—in this box type “Kindness in Focus”.
A list will come up: Click on “Kindness in Focus”, find “Hacienda Pals” and VOTE!

Please forward this on to co-workers, family and friends—every vote counts!

Elsevier Employees Donate Money for Eyeglasses

2007-05-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to Hacienda Orphanage we learned that there were a number of children at the orphanage in desperate need of eye examinations and new glasses. We even met one little girl, Sandy, who had no choice but to wear a pair of broken glasses since she couldn't see without them.

Because it requires so little to purchase an eye exam and glasses for one child, Allison Bechill, Rena Cuardas, Danielle Cox and I pooled the money we had with us at the time to donate to the cause. We had the money matched by Elsevier too! In the end the four of us donated $105, which will cover three pairs of eyeglasses once it’s matched by Elsevier. A simple donation really can make a difference.

Lisa Reid

Daughter of Executive Asks for Shoe Donations Rather Than Birthday Presents!

2007-05-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

Kelsy Rafferty, the daughter of Chryanne Lowe, VP Global Customer Marketing, recently celebrated her 7th birthday in a very special way. Instead of receiving gifts from her friends she decided to ask for donations for the children at Hacienda Orphanage. Daria DeCooman, an active volunteer with the Tijuana orphanages, suggested donations of Brand New Shoes to give to the children. The response was astounding as Kelsy received 22 new pairs of shoes to donate!

Kelsy is an inspiration to us all!

Donation Barrels Ready to be Filled in the San Diego Office

2007-05-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

Employees in the San Diego office may have noticed that there are barrels -- located in the elevator banks on the 19th, 20th, and 21st floor-- where employees can drop off donations for the Project Hacienda.
A list of suggested donations can be found on this site as well as on the outside of the barrels. This is an easy way for employees to get involved and we'd love to see other offices hold their own donation drives in support of Project Hacienda!

Elsevier Employee Enters Photo Contest to Benefit CDV

2007-04-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

Rena Cuadras, an active CaREs committee member in our San Diego office, has entered a photo contest in hopes of winning a $1000 contribution to Corazon de Vida. To learn more about the content, which is associated with VolunteerMatch.org, please visit http://www.squidoo.com/kindnessinfocus.

To read Rena's submission please see below:

Hacienda Pals

Caption: I was overwhelmed by the need of the orphans at the Hacienda orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. Although they get their basic daily needs met by Corazon de Vida, their main desire, which filled my heart, was the desperate need of the human touch—a smile and caress from a caring person. This makes the children feel special. These two little girls compelled my attention as I snapped this picture and then all the hugs and smiles came. They are pals and did everything together, even hugged me together. The feeling is overwhelmingly mutual as to who was fulfilled that day, and it truly was a blessing.

Orgainzation: Corazon de Vida (CDV) supports 14 orphanages of Baja, Mexico by raising contributions in the form of money, material, and volunteer work to benefit and empower the children of Baja. Combined, CDV touches the lives of over 700 children. CDV was formed in 1994 to raise funds and support for the children of Baja, Mexico. Without funds for housing, food, or social programs for orphaned, homeless, and abandoned children; Mexico is not able to provide a future for its youngest citizens. www.corazondevida.org.

Elsevier Executive Donates Office Depot Order to Orphans

2007-04-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Sal Gelardi, Sr. VP of Global Bk. Sales & Mktg. , has donated one Office Depot order of up to $200 for Project Hacienda. Office Depot is the perfect store for purchasing arts & crafts supplies for the summer projects we have planned. All of the purchases will go to the children who reside at the orphanage.
Thank you Sal for thinking of innovative ways for supporting CaREs!

Global Director for LexisNexis CaREs Sends Her Support

2007-04-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

This is a fabulous project, and I want to congratulate you and your team for the work you have already done and what you plan to do. LexisNexis can help by donating PCs and/or laptops out of our donation stock housed here in Dayton. We would just have to figure out how to pay to ship them out there. I think it’s a wonderful project!! And I wouldn’t mind being a pen pal. I currently tutor two 2nd grade girls here in Dayton, and enjoy it very much.

All the Best,
Selene

Selene Edmunds
Director, LexisNexis Cares (Global)
9443 Springboro Pike
Miamisburg, OH 45342

Elsevier Executive Pledges Money for His Employees' Participation

2007-04-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

Jim Donohue, Managing Director S&T Books, was truly inspired by our CDV project during his recent visit to the San Diego office. So much so that he graciously pledged $25 for every Elsevier S&T Books employee that attends the bus trip on June 14th.
Thank you, Jim! Your generosity will not only make a difference in a child's life but hopefully inspire others to participate as well.

Registration Now Open for June 14 Trip to Hacienda!

2007-04-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to announce that an RE-employee-only bus trip to the Hacienda orphanage will take place on Thursday, June 14, 2007. The bus will originate in Los Angeles, where it will pick up RE employees from the RBI office and then continue on to pick up RE employees in San Diego before crossing the border into Tijuana, Mexico (where Hacienda is located). Employees will be giving one-on-one attention to the kids and hopefully preparing their classroom for a RE-sponsored summer school. For an introduction to CDV and Hacienda, check out the two photo slideshows posted above under "Learn More...".
To sign up, please send an email to SanDiegoCares@elsevier.com with your name, business unit and desired pick-up location (LA or SD). And, of course, please be sure to get your manager's approval to participate. Since this trip takes place on a regular business day, RE employees can use one of their "Two Days Off" to attend this unique and rewarding event. (Please send us an email at the address above or check with your local HR rep or RE Cares Champion if you're unsure of the procedure for requesting "Two Days" time off.)
If you'd like to get involved, but can't make the trip or just don't feel like it's for you, just let us know. There is an endless amount of ways to help out. We'll be posting them here as they occur to us, but we've listed a few of our favorites below to get you started...

Make a donation! All RE-employee donations will be matched at least once from our corporate matching-gift programs. One-off donations are always appreciated, or you can sponsor an individual child--either on your own or with a group--for as little as $2.06 a day. And, as Corazon de Vida is a registered non-profit, all donations are tax-deductible.
Use Goodsearch.com as your search engine, and assign CDV as your recipient charity.
Do you have a special skill? If you speak Spanish, why not offer to help others correspond with the children there as pen pals? If you're more technically inclined, we'd love to put you to work editing video or improving our site. Whatever your talent or skill, we'll find a use for it!
Donate supplies! A list of needed items is posted on this site.
Spread the word! Please consider passing this on to your friends and family. And remember to check back here for regular updates...

Shop at Ralphs and Support CDV at the Same Time

2007-04-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

Buenos dias,
As most of you are aware I do a lot of volunteer work down at the orphanage in Tijuana and no doubt you have heard me recount my adventures down there.

From time to time I have asked for donations or gifts to keep the house operating. Below is an easy way to help us raise funds for the kids. I know some of you diehard Von's or Albertson's shoppers might feel a little disloyal going to Ralph's but it is for a good cause.

So if you get the chance before your next trip to the grocery store please enroll in the program and help us keep smiles on the orphans

thank you
Victor

____________________________

Dear Non Profit Organization 84379,

Congratulations on your enrollment into our Community Program at Ralphs or Food 4 Less or Foods Co. Your participants can begin enrolling online within 48 hours of this notification. Just go to the appropriate website mentioned below and begin enrolling.

You have been assigned a new NPO number 84379.Please refer to this number in all future correspondence.

TO USE THE RALPHS COMMUNITY PROGRAM

Simply encourage your members to register online at http://www.ralphs.com/, click on community contributions then click on participants.
Be sure they have their Ralphs Club Card(s) available and register their card with your organization by following the easy online directions.
If a member does not have a Ralphs Club Card, please let them know that they are available at the customer service desk at any Ralphs.
Remember, purchases will not count for your group until after your member(s) register their card(s).
Do you use your phone number at the register? Call 800-660-9003 to get your Club Card number.
Members must swipe their registered Ralphs Club Card when shopping for each purchase to count.

Use Your Search Engine to Support CDV

2007-04-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hi,
I'm now using GoodSearch.com to search the Internet. Every time I do, money goes to my favorite charity: Corazon de Vida. I hope you'll give it a try and support CDV too.
The site is powered by Yahoo!, so you'll get the same quality search results that you're used to. What's unique is that they have developed a way to direct money to CDV with every click.
The more people who use this site, the more money will go to those in need. So please spread the word to your friends and family.
www.goodsearch.com
Cheers,
Daria

2007-04-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

Hello, colleagues,
Last Saturday (4/7/07), along with 45 other Corazon de Vida volunteers, I visited the Esperanza orphanage in Tijuana.
As you can see at the Picasa URL below, books donated by Harcourt Trade and by Cindy MacDonald's daughter were a big hit! From the moment the books came out of their box, until it was time for the volunteers to get on our bus and head home, kids kept reading - alone or with each other or with staff and volunteers.
Young people were delighted when I told them they could keep the books. In the midst of Easter bunny chaos, child after child gathered up small stacks of books and took them to their rooms.
Thank you all for the books and other donations kindly sent to the orphanages. Surely every little bit of help makes a difference.
Cheers,Daria
Photos from Esperanza orphanage on April 7:
http://picasaweb.google.com/dariadster/EsperanzaOrphanageApril2007
Corazon de Vida bus trips to Baja orphanages:
http://www.corazondevida.org/

RE Cares and Corazon de Vida

2007-04-09T13:26:00.000-07:00

Over the past six months, SD Cares has been steadily building a relationship with Corazon de Vida. Elsevier employee and long-time SD Cares Committee member Daria DeCooman donates her time and money on an ongoing basis—collecting donations, visiting the various homes at least once a month and sharing her experiences with the office through email updates.

Other employees have become involved with CDV, as well, among them current SD Cares Committee members Allison Bechill, Danielle Cox, Rena Cuadras and Lisa Reid. On Thursday, April 5, 2007 these four employees accompanied CDV Associate Executive Director Kelly Morrissey and full-time volunteer staffer George Perez on one of their frequent trips to Tijuana, Mexico to check in on a number of the orphanages.

2007-03-05T11:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Colleagues,

Thanks for your recent kind donations of food, household supplies, books and posters! Special thanks go to Allison Bechill, Cindy MacDonald and Harcourt colleagues for the generous donations of books and posters in Spanish, as well as Tessie Perillo for the generous donations of food and household supplies. This past Saturday (3/3/07), the donations were delivered to Casa Hogar Sion in Tijuana. (Some of the books were retained for distribution to other orphanages.)

For photos showing kids, volunteers and staff at work and play that day, see the "Casa Hogar Sion, March 2007" photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/dariadster. (Viewing the photos as a slideshow can give you an idea of how lively the place is!)

On Saturday, April 21, Allison Bechill, Danielle Cox and I will be on a Corazon de Vida bus heading to the Hacienda orphanage in TJ.

For that trip, we're collecting what every home of 50 + needs, including:

Bath tissue
Shampoo, conditioner, antibacterial hand soap
NEW socks: All sizes and colors (including white) for boys and girls
Kitchen items: Gloves, sponges, powder or liquid cleanser, steel wool pads, dish detergent, brushes, dishcloths
Large brooms, mops, dust pans
Laundry detergent, bleach

Fyi, candy, gum, used clothes and used shoes aren't allowed.

If you'd like to contribute donations, please let Allison, Dani or me know. We can pick the items up from you, or you can drop them by one of our offices.

For more on the nonprofit Corazon de Vida or to register for their trips to TJ orphanages, visit www.corazondevida.org

Cheers,

Daria

2007-02-20T11:06:00.000-08:00

Greetings, colleagues,

Thanks for your kind donations of toiletries and food, as well as other items, which were delivered this past Saturday (2/17/07) to Casa Hogar Sion in Tijuana.
As the orphanage supports about 120 folks, including babies, children and teen orphans along with adult staff and volunteers, all donations are welcomed there and put to good use!

Photos from my trip last Saturday are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/dariadster. To view them, you have to get a Picasa account - which is free.

On March 3, I'll return to the same orphanage, again traveling via a bus organized by Corazon de Vida. Anyone interested in CDV trips, which visit various orphanages in Tijuana and Ensenada, can sign up at www.corazondevida.org.

For my March visit, I'm collecting picture books plus children's and teen books in Spanish. If you have books to donate, let me know please and I can fetch them.
If you want a receipt for your donations, drop me a line. CDV Associate Director Kelly Morrissey can provide receipts.

Muchas gracias,
Daria

2007-02-08T10:58:00.000-08:00

Hello, everybody,
This month, thanks to a bus trip organized by the nonprofit group Corazon de Vida, I'm visiting for the second time Casa Hogar Sion orphanage in Tijuana.

For my visit on February 17, I'm collecting the following:
Toiletries and cosmetics, in travel sizes and regular
Toilet paper
Kitchen cleaning products (including dish detergent, sponges, steel wool pads, brushes)
Toddler diapers
Small boxes of juice and raisins
Trail mix or nuts
Applesauce or fruit cocktail
Packages of cookies (leaning towards the healthy side, e.g. fig bars)
Big plastic bottles of ketchup, mustard, relish
Books in Spanish or English (Most of the kids at this orphanage are in the elementary-to-middle-school age range, but there are some older teens as well as toddlers.)
By the way, San Diego Cares Committee member Danielle Cox has twice visited Door of Faith, another Baja orphanage supported by Corazon de Vida. And Cares Committee Chair Allison Bechill has recently met with CDV Associate Director Kelly Morrissey. So if you want more information on CDV, besides visiting their website you can talk to Danielle or Allison or me.

To get details on upcoming CDV orphanage trips that will pick folks up in San Diego, see "Monthly Trips" at http://www.corazondevida.org/. The cost is $25 per person, and the trips fill up fast.
Cheers,
Daria
x6283

Casa Hogar Sion orphanage:
http://www.casahogarsion.com/

2007-01-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Colleagues,
Thanks much for your generosity and the many donations which I delivered to Casa Hogar Sion orphanage in Tijuana this past Saturday (1/20/07). Carmen, the orphanage director, was most appreciative, and I'm confident the toiletries and craft items will go to good use.

Photos I took the orphanage are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/dariadster. (NB: You must have a Google account (free) to view the photos.)
The orphanage is doing a fine job while facing many challenges. Because the US-based nonprofit Corazon de Vida which sponsors trips to the orphanage is so well-organized, and because the orphanage needs help and helpers, and because the kids there are darling and fun and grateful for company, I'll again visit on February 17.

For the February trip, as I've now visited the orphanage and eaten lunch there and learned the kids seem to be subsisting mostly on hotdogs (largely sans condiments), cheetos and Cool Aid, I'm collecting the following items. Note the Mexican government, to protect used-clothing vendors, bars used clothing entering the country on a large scale. Hence buses going to the orphanage can't carry used clothing. However dry or canned food items can be taken into Mexico.

DONATIONS NEEDED FOR FEB. 17:
Toiletries, in travel sizes and regular
Toilet paper
Kitchen cleaning products (including dish detergent, sponges, steel wool pads, brushes)
Toddler diapers
Small boxes of juice and raisins
Trail mix (no one at the orphanage seemed concerned about handing out peanuts, and a visitor's gift of trail mix containing peanuts immediately vanished)
Applesauce or fruit cocktail
Packages of cookies
Big plastic bottles of ketchup, mustard, relish
For anyone looking for a cross-cultural volunteer activity, I highly recommend Corazon de Vida's Saturday bus trips to TJ orphanages. I've now been on two such trips and learned that the 15 CDV-supported orphanages are staffed by few paid employees and many adult volunteers, including folks who go spend several days or months focusing on activities such as teaching English or teaching kids how to use computers. Weekend visitors, including adults and teens/kids with their parents, not only gain the usual benefits (think warm fuzzies) associated with volunteering but also allow orphanage staff (most of whom live at the orphanages) to enjoy a bit of downtime. Visitors can do as much or as little real work as desired. Doing crafts or playing basketball with kids, or visiting with babies and toddlers, as well as lending a hand with kitchen chores and possibly building maintenance, make the five-or-so hours spent at an orphanage on a Saturday go by fast.

Cheers,
Daria
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Casa Hogar Sion orphanage in Tijuana:
http://www.casahogarsion.com/

Corazon de Vida Foundation:
http://www.corazondevida.org/

2007-01-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

Hi, all,
This Saturday (1/20/07) I'm visiting a Tijuana orphanage supported by the US nonprofit Corazon de Vida (http://www.corazondevida.org/).
The orphanage is Casa Hogar Sion (http://www.casahogarsion.com/index.html), and they welcome donations of new and unused toiletry items - particularly the travel size.
If you have any shampoo/conditioner/toothpaste/toothbrush/lotion donations to send, please let me know. This is a good chance to clear out toiletry items collected during travel!
Thanks,Daria
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