Books and a building
Last week, more than 20 volunteers showed up at La Biblioteca Rey Nayar to dust off the collection of donated books and clear weeds from the building’s front and back yards. They will be back for more painting and to provide the finishing touches over the next several weeks.
The long-awaited dream of the Asociacion Bahia de Banderas Cultural, formed in 1998 to build and operate a library in Bucerias, is about to become a reality. After many years of organizing, fundraising, acquiring land and construction, the organization hopes to open the library’s doors by the middle of March.
Offer of help
Asociacion Bahia de Banderas Cultural officers Jesus Gonzalez, Rosa Maria Trejo, Rita Kollock and their loyal volunteers have received an unexpected offer of help from a newcomer in the community, Sue Usry, who has lived in the northshore area for only nine months. Usry wants to take on the task of coordinating the opening and operation of the new library.
Usry, a retired teacher originally from California, lived and worked in Mexico City for more than 20 years. She says she wanted to take a leadership role in the library project because she was starting to feel a bit lonely after almost a year without having children around her.
“I have been committed to the promotion of literacy for 40 years of my life, so when I heard about the library, it was the answer to what I felt was missing in my newly retired life.”
Usry will coordinate the day-to-day operation of the library, recruit volunteers and develop community outreach programs to bring Mexican children and adults into the facility.
As Usry is new to the area she has been busy visiting the successful Los Mangos Library in Puerto Vallarta and the equally successful community center and library in San Pancho.
“I learned an enormous amount from these resources,” reports Usry. “It has given me a pair of stars to shoot for.”
Usry says she has lots of ideas to encourage children and their families to come to the new library. Among other things, she plans to network with local public schools and begin a “homework helper” program in both English and Spanish.
“It is important to get our collection of more than 1,000 books in both English and Spanish into the hands of the people ... books on shelves are useless,” Usry says.
For more information, contact Usry at susandemexico@usa.net, and she adds, yes, lots more volunteers are needed.
4,000 ‘likes’ & 400 meals
Puerto Vallarta-based tour company Vallarta Adventures has offered to provide 400 meals to PEACE’s Work For Food (WFF) program when their Facebook page reaches 4,000 “likes.”
Anyone can help simply by visiting the Vallarta Adventures Facebook page, www.facebook.com/vallarta.adventures?ref=ts&v=app_6009294086, and clicking on the “like the page” button.
PEACE’s WFF program grew out of flood relief efforts initiated in September 2010. It has continued to expand due to the ongoing decline in job opportunities and the corresponding increase in calls for assistance to meet basic needs such as food.
PEACE has responded to that need by implementing town beautification and improvement projects, providing residents with jobs in return for food and cleaning supplies, which are donated or “sponsored” for the WFF program.
All work projects are defined and designed by committees of local residents, emphasizing PEACE’s goal of encouraging community-based decision-making,
To join the cause and donate food or supplies, contact nikhol@peace.org.
Amigos de la Cruz
A membership discount card will soon be available to people who join APERCH/Amigos de La Cruz. The card will allow members to receive discounts and promotional offers from merchants and restaurants in the area.
APERCH is asking interested persons to talk to their favorite businesses owners and explain the promotion, which amounts to free advertising. The APERCH/Amigos de La Cruz Communications & Promotion Committee members will do follow-up work when they receive the initial contact information: the name of the business, contact person, address and phone number. APERCH says suggestions for a promotion would be a discount, such as 10 percent off with a 250-peso purchase, 10-percent off the price of an entire meal, or a free item with a purchase, such as a dozen free tortillas with a 300-peso purchase.
The business will be listed in a directory of all participants, and a logo can be displayed in a membership kit to be offered on the Amigos de La Cruz website.
You’re asked to send the business contact information to lacruzamigos@gmail.com with “Member Discount Info” on the subject line.
A big thank you
Anne Milling, the volunteer coordinator for the Rhythm ‘n’ Ribs fundraiser held on February 19, says this year’s event was the best ever, raising 165,820 pesos for the Manos de Amor Casa Hogar.
She writes: “Thanks to our great volunteers and all the help we received from our generous community restaurants and businesses. Be assured that all of your hard work is greatly appreciated. You are the ones who are helping to feed, clothe and educate the 21 kids who live at the Casa Hogar.”
Flipping burgers
The generous people at Los Mangos Trailer Park did it once again. Not only do they know how to throw a great party but they managed to raise 75,000 pesos for the Manos de Amor Casa Hogar.
It was a beautiful night under the stars, with burgers on the grill, a live auction and karaoke.
“It just can’t get any better,” says Nicole Youngquist of Manos de Amor. “A great big thank you goes out to the trailer park, Norman and Darlene, Walter and Gerry, all those who attended and the volunteers who helped.” A record-breaking 380 hamburgers were flipped. “I guess all you can say is, holy cow,” jokes Youngquist.
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