Moving Day!
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Imagine a place that radiates warmth and hope, brought to life by the efforts of a dedicated community. Recently, at the John Gullo Home for Children in El Cardonal, an extraordinary group of volunteers came together to set the home up for the children,, turning a vision into reality through sheer teamwork and generosity.
Under the dedicated leadership of Brian Andrews, a remarkable group of volunteers came together to move and assemble furniture for the home. The day was nothing short of inspiring, with friends and families contributing their time and resources to bring this project to life.
A Day of Hard Work and Heart with Video Evidence!
The day started early as seven pick-up trucks, five trailers, and fifteen volunteers arrived, ready to tackle the monumental task. Led by Brian Andrews and his wife, Hope, the team included movers and assemblers who worked tirelessly to ensure everything was perfectly placed.
Brian's post summed it up beautifully:
"Sending out a HUGE thanks to everyone who came out and helped move and then assemble the furniture for the John Gullo Children's Home in El Cardonal today. It was a huge undertaking, and it would not have happened without the support of our great community."
Community at Its Best
The move team, consisting of enthusiastic volunteers, transported the furniture from storage to the home. The assembly team then took over, meticulously putting together beds, tables, chairs, and more. Special thanks go to Pamela Ergrstrom and Ashley Furniture. Pamela organized the donation of all the beds and mattress protectors and secured the rest of the furniture at wholesale prices.
Additionally, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to YachtAid Global, represented by Brian Andrews. Their funding made it possible to purchase and deliver the remaining furniture. This combined effort has brought us one step closer to opening our doors to children in need.
When do the Children arrive?
While the home is ready to provide a safe haven for children whose families are experiencing a medical crisis, we still need your help. We have secured $35,000 in pledges, but we aim to have 18 months of operational expenses, totaling $157,500, in place before we officially open. Your generosity can make this happen. Consider setting up a monthly donation to help sustain the ongoing expenses of the John Gullo Home for Children.
Thank you!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has already donated to this cause. Your support is invaluable and deeply appreciated.
Join Us in Making a Difference
If you would like to view our detailed Grant Request document, click here to download a copy. Your contribution, no matter how small, will help us open our doors and provide a nurturing environment for children in need.
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PARTNER UPDATES
Líderes Para Dar / John Gullo Home for Children
Now that all the furniture has been set up and all the appliances are in, we want to keep everthing safe and secure. To that end we have installed a 100% wireless security system. These are battery powered cameras with a small solar panel so they never need to be recharged.
They have been placed at the entry points of the property as well as other key areas. Each camera has its own memory giving us constant close, high definition images of everyone who comes and goes.
We also have a family moving in until we open for added security.
The home is ready, please help us raise the operational money needed to start accepting the children whose families need this facility.
New Creation Kids (NCK) Children’s Home
We are happy to see some of the children at New Creation Kids beating the heat! We are also happy to see they have some extra water 😄
Since our founding, Leaders2Give has been dedicated to supporting the operational expenses of New Creation Kids, including essentials like food, water, propane, education, and more. Each year, our Board carefully reviews our available funds and establishes a monthly budget for the upcoming year.
The good news is that our budget has remained consistently stable. However, the rising cost of living has posed new challenges in recent years. We are grateful that there are various organizations that help New Creation Kids meet the children's needs to help alleviate this issue. Some of these organizations direct their support through us and others work directly with New Creation Kids.
Your support makes a significant difference in their lives so please consider making a donation today. Together, we can ensure that these children receive the care and resources they deserve.
The East Cape Health Center
In April 2024, the East Cape Health Center partnered with Rotary International to conduct health screenings at schools in the small Mexican towns of La Ribera and El Cardonal. Following the screening in El Cardonal, clinic personnel toured the town’s newly-constructed, three-room high school.
Although the school was set to welcome students beginning in September, there were no funds available to purchase desks and other necessary furniture. Recognizing this need, the clinic reached out to friends in Rotary, who directed the clinic to The Reuse Network, an organization that supplies school furniture donated in the United States to international groups.
After several weeks of discussions with The Reuse Network, the clinic, Rotary International, and Associatión de Artes, managed to secure through their combined efforts a 52-foot trailer containing used school chairs, filing cabinets, bookshelves and desks suitable for both children and teachers. The generous size of the donation allowed the clinic and other philanthropic organizations to offer updated furniture to 27 schools located in the East Cape area of Baja. Trucks and smaller trailers have been arranged and will begin distributing the furniture upon its arrival in Los Barriles.
This type of local teamwork demonstrates the power of community involvement, which the East Cape Health Center, Rotary International, and the Associatión de Artes exemplify.
Feeding The Hungry
Feeding the Hungry FAQ
Q: How many families does Feeding the Hungry (FTH) help on a regular basis?
A: Usually between 20 to 25 families.
Q: How much assistance does each family receive?
A: Each family receives 1300 pesos worth of food vouchers per month.
Q: What percentage of the money raised goes to those in need?”
A: 100% of the funds raised are used to purchase the food vouchers which are passed on to those in need.
Q: How does FTH know which families need help?
A: Los Barriles is a small community. Families in need are referred to FTH by friends, relatives, and local medical practices.
Q: How are families chosen to receive assistance?
A: Each time FTH receives a request from a family for help they are interviewed to assess their situation. Based on that gathered information the executive board makes the decision.
Q: How frequently does FTH monitor the families being helped?
A: At least twice a year FTH checks in with the families enrolled in the program to assess their ongoing progress and/or needs.
Q: Do families ever exit the program?
A: Yes. Approx one third of the families that have been enrolled in the program have been able to change their circumstances, so they no longer need FTH assistance.
Q: How can I help?
A: Volunteer to help with publicity and fundraising activities. Contact Ben and Harriet Purkey purkeybh@gmail.com or Gordon and Joy Blackie gordonandoy@gmail.com They would be delighted to hear from you.
SNAP - Spay, Neuter, and Prevention
SNAP recently participated in the Curso de Verano, an event that saw 100 school-aged children attending classes on responsible pet ownership. These classes were expertly taught by Dr. Dea Gavin, while our enthusiastic intern, Isabella, engaged the kids with a special SNAP version of the Mexican game, lotería.
In terms of our achievements this year, SNAP has successfully spayed and neutered over 1,000 animals.
Despite the hot weather, their dedicated veterinarian, Dr. Cristobal, has extended his services to surrounding communities, including Mira Flores, where he has performed surgeries on 50 animals at a community clinic.
They are incredibly proud of the progress they have made and grateful for the ongoing support from the community. June's Paws for a Cause was a great success, and they are especially grateful to Dan Clemen for his generous $10,000 donation and to all the SNAPSTERS who contributed towards the matching challenge.
Crescent Moon Project - Art for Children
Crescent Moon Project (CMP) is proud to be one of the sponsors for this year’s Curso de Verano, a free camp serving 100 local children organized by the East Cape Environmental Education & Recycling. This year’s theme is WHALES with the children learning about these magnificent creatures as well as other local environmental topics. The CMP Art Teacher designed engaging projects, gathered/prepped materials, and led the activities, along with dedicated student volunteers and members of Friends Supporting Families who provided invaluable support for the preparation and Art Day experiences.
During the first Art Day, children explored the shapes, sizes, and figures of whales and marine life. Using images of various whales (Blue/Humpback) with transparent acetate over the image, they outlined the contour of the selected whale, carefully noting each detail and line. They then added marine details of their choice and painted them with acrylic paint, layering colors to create stunning artworks. Additionally, the children enjoyed having their faces painted by a talented Friends Supporting Families volunteer.
The second Art Day brought more creativity as the younger groups of children painted a piece of material drawn by Crescent Moon students. After each child contributed their artwork, eight fabric paintings were created. In keeping with the theme of East Cape Environmental Education, the older students repurposed donated styrofoam boards to craft oversized puzzle pieces, which formed a mural of whales and marine life when assembled. As part of the CMP mission to provide older students leadership opportunities, they worked the weeks leading up to Curso de Semana to help prepare the pieces. The Art Days at this year’s Curso de Semana were truly a collaborative effort, fostering creativity, teamwork, and a deeper appreciation for the local marine environment!
To Donate to Leaders2Give and any of our Partners, visit our Donate page.