In This Issue: - Klim & Food Start Bottles Needed
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
| ,Meet Noemi Moreno Noemi was left to care for three young children several years ago when her husband died after a long fight with cancer. She found a maintenance job at the local elementary school, but when the political administration changed, her position disappeared and now she struggles to feed her family. Her children attend the school where Noemi used to work and she cares deeply that her children get a decent education. She wants them to be successful and get what they need in life. She keeps them clean, has taught them social skills, and makes sure they demonstrate gratitude as well as acknowledge others' needs. Their modest wood home does not have indoor plumbing, but they now have electricity. Jorge, 12, Doris, 10, and Israel, 8 were extremely happy to see that Christmas gifts were part of the December food delivery. Noemi told her volunteer, "This is going to be a Feliz Navidad for our family and we thank you!" | | | | | | After the floods in Panamá, specifically in the greater Boquete area in the Chiriquà province, we asked for donations and you enthusiastically responded. Buenos Vecinos de Boquete received approximately $8,600. We reached out to the mayor's office as they had already done some flood relief, gathering donations of cleaning supplies, personal goods, and clothing as well as non-perishable foods. But the need was so great that many families still needed assistance. Mayor Eduardo RodrÃguez asked that we provide a holiday meal for 70 families. He promised assistance in the form of transportation. On Monday, December 30, 2024, BVB volunteers packed the holiday meals and an additional one month's supply of staples delivered by staff from the mayor's office as well as our volunteers. Thanks to your incredible generosity, your donations were more than needed. The surplus funds remain ready to use at a moment's notice for future emergencies. | | | | | | | | This year's toy drive was successful, as we provided toys to all children, from tots to teens, of our Buenos Vecinos families. We partnered with another charitable organization, the Association Caridad de la Comunidad de Boquete (ACCB), which gathered toys for Indigenous families on the comarca. Bins for depositing toys were located at several local businesses which generously gave space. These businesses included Red'n'Blue; Big Daddy's Restaurant; Mailboxes, Etc. In addition, BVB had a box at our table at the Thursday Market and Sherry Shirrit coordinated gathering toys and donations at Casa Vieja, where there is a Friday happy hour group. Big Daddy's also sponsored a fund- and toy-raising dinner. Thanks to Chris and his wonderful staff including those who are members of Inclusión Boquete, who made a delicious meal possible. A wrapping party was held shortly before the toys were to be disbursed to each group. The "wrapping elves" as they were called were very enthusiastic and happy to be able to wrap gifts for every child. | | | | | | Unemployment is Rising in Panama On the 27th of December, Newsroom Panama reported that Panama has experienced economic growth over the last few years, but unemployment is growing higher. It has risen from 7.4% to 9.5% in the last year. Thousands of Panamanians are struggling to find stable, "formal jobs" that offer benefits and job protection. Since these jobs are fewer, many people have resorted to "informal employment," with no job protection or benefits. Experts suggest that the current model of economic development is not prioritizing the creation of formal employment or social inclusion. They add that "economic growth must be inclusive, offering opportunities for all." This can be done by offering job training, supporting small and medium-size businesses, and strengthening technology as well as sustainable tourism. This of course affects our Buenos Vecinos de Boquete families. Many of them struggle to support themselves when there are plentiful decent paying formal jobs. Now that unemployment is rising, they have fewer chances to find jobs of any sort. Information based on & quotes from: https://newsroompanama.com/2024/12/27/panama-is-growing-unemployment-in- the-country/ | | | | Klim and Food Start Bottles Needed | | | | One of the most expensive items we purchase for our families is KLIM, the fortified dried milk that the Panamanian government subsidizes. Many of our families have no electricity, let alone a refrigerator, so KLIM is perfect for their needs, as it can be made a glass at a time. It also has an airtight lid. We purchase the 360g can and every family gets at least one can; some families get two cans so we distribute approximately 200 cans a month. We are also in need of clean, large, handled bottles for our Food Start program. If you live in the Boquete area, please drop a can or two of KLIM and any large handled bottles off at the BVB table at the Thursday Boquete Community Market at the Amigos de Animales building. You can purchase the 360g can for less than $4.00 a can. Or, if you prefer, make a donation so we can purchase the very much needed cans of KLIM. | | | | Buenos Vecinos exists to help people who are unable to meet their basic food needs. We have provided emergency food support on many occasions and have been successful in helping families through hard times. We will help them with food support until the working age adults in the family can find enough income to become self-sustaining. | | | 
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
