| | | | COMIDA ES VIDA! FOOD IS LIFE! | | | In This Issue (October 2025) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Benigna, age 95, resides in Jaramillo Abajo, a part of Boquete. While she owns her home, she is endeavoring to get by on a modest $120 a month. Living with her are several relatives, including her daughter in her seventies, her 76-year-old daughter-in-law, her son-in-law, and her granddaughter. Most of the family have reached the mandatory retirement age; many, including Benigna, are dealing with significant medical conditions such as COPD and Parkinson's Disease.
Benigna depends on supplemental oxygen, relies on a walker to move about, and faces hearing difficulties. Her family members also require various medications, including those for Parkinson's, high blood pressure, heart conditions, and blood thinners. At least one household member needs adult diapers as part of their care.
Despite these hardships, Benigna's family remains devoted, caring for their home and maintaining a tidy yard. Each month, they look forward to a visit from the BVB volunteer, enjoying these brief moments of companionship and support.
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Meet Our Volunteer
Andrea Larsen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Andrea, whose name is pronounced "AHN-dree-uh," is Canadian, originally from a town on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo. She says her claim to fame is that her high school best friend's mom created the official Nanaimo Bar recipe.
She has lived in Canada, Germany, Turks & Caicos, Martinique, Colorado, and now Boquete. Andrea was an au pair in Germany, then worked for Club Med which is where she met a guest who became her husband of 25 years, Dave. He is from Colorado and they lived there before making the move to Panama.
Andrea's work life also included being the HR Director for League One Volleyball, a professional women's volleyball league in the U.S. She also worked in aerospace and digital advertising.
Reading, hiking, and enjoying good wine rank as some of her favorite hobbies. She was a knitter and would enjoy knitting again, but needs a refresher course. She enjoys singing and acting, and has traveled as a singer/performer across the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe. Andrea studied theatre in college and played the role of Eponine in a traveling production of Les Misérables before joining the international group "Up With People." She says she still sings loudly and often, but mostly in the car or the shower.
Andrea enjoyed her travels everywhere but adores southern Germany for its beauty, history, and ease of travel. However, she feels Canada is the most stunning place of all, saying, "Every time I return, I'm blown away – and I always wonder how I didn't fully appreciate it when I was growing up."
Dave had been researching Panama as a retirement destination for years. When COVID caused the cancellation of a 2020 tour they were scheduled to be on, they decided to come anyway to take advantage of the Friendly Nations Visa program before the requirements changed. Boquete won their hearts due to its climate and natural beauty. They moved January 1, 2025, to Boquete so they could celebrate the new year in their new home. This was after a whirlwind December 2024, when their son graduated from college, they celebrated the holidays, and Andrea retired on December 31. The people they have met have made Boquete home for them. She says they have made more friends here in less than a year than they made in 25 years in Colorado.
She and Dave feel very fortunate to be here and try to remember that, ultimately, they are guests in this country. Andrea wanted to volunteer as a way of giving back to the community. In her words, "Amigos de Animales already had plenty of volunteers, and two friends suggested BVB, so I reached out to Trish to see how I could help and I've been volunteering since February 2025." Her roles have included helping with the monthly food packing and managing BVB's social media.
Delivering food to a family was incredibly moving for Andrea. The father of the family was seriously ill, but both he and his wife were warm, positive, and welcoming to Andrea and Dave. She says the husband and wife were inspiring due to their strength and kindness. Additionally, Andrea enjoys seeing the responses to the posts she creates on Facebook and Instagram. | | | | |
Toys for Kids Drive Brings Christmas Joy to Local Children
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For many children, Christmas morning is filled with laughter, brightly wrapped presents, and the magic of the season. But for families struggling to make ends meet, the holidays can be a painful reminder of what they cannot provide. That's why this year's Toys for Kids Drive is more important than ever. The program is dedicated to ensuring that every child in the families we serve experiences the joy of receiving a gift at Christmas. Thanks to the generosity of neighbors, local businesses, and caring individuals, the drive collects toys and games for children who might otherwise go without a present.
Donation boxes will be placed at convenient locations throughout town, making it easy for everyone to participate. Community members are encouraged to drop off new, unwrapped toys (value $15) for children of all ages. Whether it's a doll, a soccer ball, a puzzle, or a set of building blocks, each gift carries with it a message of hope and love. If you prefer to make a cash donation, visit us at the Buenos Vecinos table in the Thursday Market in the Animales building.
Boxes can be found at the following locations:
Mailboxes, Etc.
Big Daddy's
Stone Cabins
The Garden Restaurant
Tacoholics
House Hunters Panama
"Christmas is about giving, and it's heartwarming to see how our community comes together to brighten the season for children who need it most," said one organizer. "Every toy collected helps us remind these kids that they are cared for and not forgotten." The Toys for Kids Drive not only delivers gifts but also spreads the true spirit of the holidays—compassion, generosity, and community. With your help, we can ensure that no child wakes up on Christmas morning without a reason to smile. | | | | | | | Big Daddy's restaurant will once again be hosting a special holiday dinner on Sunday, November 23 to benefit the Toy Drive. There will be two seating times available for convenience and a portion of the dinner price will be donated to the drive. You may bring your toy donation to the event or make a cash donation at that time.
2 seatings
12 noon meet & greet cocktails - 1 pm 1st seating
4pm meet & greet cocktails - 5 pm 2nd seating
Meal options with sides: Cajun Boil, Chicken with garlic sauce or Veggie taco dish $15. Each as well as a $15 unwrapped toy or cash donation.
Seating is limited and tickets will be available at Mailboxes Etc. in downtown Boquete. | | | | | | | While not a well-known virus, Human Bocavirus (HBoV) is circulating throughout the country at a prevalence rate between 1.4 to 4.4 percent. It mainly affects children under the age of two and can cause serious respiratory problems such as wheezing and pneumonia, as well as worsen cases of asthma. It can also cause severe gastrointestinal problems. There is no vaccine or antiviral medication to fight the virus. The key to prevention is good hygiene including washing hands and disinfecting surfaces. Treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms.
For many of our families, practicing good hygiene is practically impossible as there is no running water in the home. Disinfecting surfaces is also tough, since many houses have dirt floors and counter/table surfaces are perhaps rough pieces of wood.
This is another reason our monthly food provision is important. Parents may be able to afford medication to treat the symptoms their children are experiencing and buy vinegar to use as a disinfectant. Your donation helps support our mission of providing nonperishable food to the neediest of the needy in the greater Boquete area.
Extrapolated from:
https://biologyinsights.com/human-bocavirus-structure-infection-and-clinical-impact/
https://newsroompanama.com/2024/09/14/human-bocavirus-the-silent-enemy-affecting-panamanian-children/ | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Copyright (C) 2025 Buenos Vecinos de Boquete. All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Buenos Vecinos de Boquete, Inc. is a non-profit charitable corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status (IRS Determination Letter 26053497010525). All donations made to BVB are tax deductible in the US under current law.
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