| Last month we made our newsletter and social media readers aware of the devastating conditions that thousands of local families were now enduring because of massive flooding and landslides up in the farm country of Chiriqui, in the comarca (indigenous reservation) of Soloy, and in the southwestern coastal area of Puerto Armuelles. The dramatic outpouring of concern, almost $3400 dollars in monetary donations, and volunteer labor has made a real difference in the lives of many people in these areas. So many of you gave generously and without reservation. We want to sincerely thank you. One of our first efforts was organized and executed by BVB member Laura Daniel, whose San Juan Bautista Church in Boquete had already collected clothing and bedding. Laura recommended that BVB supplement her church's efforts with a food donation from BVB. Given the go-ahead, she ordered the food, packed it for each family, loaded it into the family truck and delivered it to the Catholic church and Padre Adonai in San Felix. They coordinated the delivery to its final destination, Soloy, an isolated comarca whose people suffered great loss of property when the nearby river flooded. The families there were thrilled with all this help coming right to their doorstep. Within a week, we learned that Global Food Providers, a local organization that teaches locals and international visitors how to grow and preserve super-foods, was donating and distributing these vegetables from their large greenhouse farm to people in the most vulnerable communities. Our donation to their efforts made it possible for them to purchase and transport even more fresh food to these families during GFP's very next visit. We also recognized the need to help those impacted by the flooding in the Puerto Armuelles area. A dam failed and 2000 families were displaced when their homes were swept away. BVB members Carmen and Luis Botero and Trish and Brian Christofferson contacted Padre Teodoro from the Parroquia San Antonio Mission in the area, and with BVB-donated funds they ordered food from a Boquete wholesaler, packed it and personally transported it down to the mission. Even though there was an initial flood relief response from the government and other organizations, there was still a critical need for more food; Padre Teodoro and his staff told our members that their delivery was very timely and deeply appreciated. On Christmas Eve Day, three BVB members drove to Volcan to underwrite a special meal and meet the staff at Fanny's Restaurant and Cocina Solidaria as they prepared 250 holiday meals and gift bags for the families of the Tierra Altas District. There are one-hundred affected families in the river valley between Volcan and Cerro Punta, most of them field-workers, who lost everything when the floods and mudslides tore through their humble living quarters. But the community came together with a food prep army known as Cocina Solidaria; three restaurants, including Fanny's, and three private kitchens prepared 52,197 meals within a 27-day period and served them in community shelters. The remainder of the BVB donation will be monitored by Carla Black, a well-known and respected community member, who will work with the local Representante to insure that the food purchases are distributed to the flood victims in greatest need. A special thanks goes to the Boquete Knitters (and crocheters) and Quilters organization who donated hundreds of homemade sweaters, hats, booties, blankets, quilts and toys. These much-needed clothes for the kids will keep them warm during the cool mountain nights. Kids and parents eyes lit up as they claimed these soft and colorful items. |
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