October to December- More 'Good Deeds done' in Salinas

Last year I wrote a Blog post about all the good deeds being done by the Expat community along with our Ecuadorian friends here in Salinas.

http://uwepetrastravelyear.blogspot.com/2013/12/december-7-to-22-good-deeds-done-in.html

This year brings a new group of good deeds by the same group now consisting of many new members.

First, the election of a new president to the Red Cross ‘Cruz Roja’ , our dear friend Susana de Calero, has brought about an amazing amount of change in this institution and has given many members of our Expat group the opportunity to become volunteers.

                                              Our new Presidente- Susana

In October, a group of dentists from the USA came to give free dental care to the poorer children of the Santa Elena area. They needed volunteers to help translate between the English speaking dentists and the Spanish speaking children.

 Many of my gringa friends were recruited by the Red Cross to help for this three day event. And help they did! A very successful endeavor.

A training session was also held at the Cruz Roja building for other people who wanted to volunteer for this worthwhile organization. An instructor came from Quito and in an all day session on a Sunday, taught us future volunteers all about the Red Cross and how we could help.

In mid November, an amazing Fund Raising dance was held for the Red Cross at the Salinas Yacht Club- a beautiful venue.

Several hard working gringas and Ecuadorianas helped Susana with this very successful event.

Susana herself made all the deserts!

Everyone of the 200 people attending had a great time, with good food and fun dancing.

A Christmas dinner was also held for the volunteers at the Cruz Roja building. Everyone brought a dish to share. 

After a short meeting with several presentations, we all enjoyed an amazing meal.

And now for the last but best good deeds that were done in Salinas.

 Back in August the Women’s Coffee Klatch had adopted a school of 289 children in a very poor area for Christmas. As well, the women of Ballenita adopted a second school of an equal amount of children. And, our friend Jean has adopted another school of 120 children for the last three years.

A Fund Raising dance called the ‘Flip Flop Sock Hop’ was held in September and more than $1500 was raised. As well, all the children were individually adopted by community members for buying of presents. One of our gringas, Dee, made Christmas stockings for every child in both schools- amazing! Everyone had a part from giving cash, bringing essentials back from North America, to buying presents, wrapping, shopping, organizing- we are one awesome group!

We held a couple of wrapping and stocking stuffing parties. Every stocking was stuffed with crayons, a coloring book designed by Connie, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, small toy etc.

As well, many of the women brought great treats to share.

                                           Another truly memorable Coffee Klatch was enjoyed.

When we discovered that many of the families of these children would have little or no food at any time of the year let alone Christmas, we decided to spend the rest of the money on staples for each of the children’s families plus the teachers.

Our good friend Eddie volunteered to use his truck & trailer to pick up the 155 boxes stuffed with rice, beans, sugar, flour, oil etc plus several large bags of salt.

Then of course, we had to have another party to divide the salt into 155 smaller packets and stuff them into the boxes- more fun times.

Finally on December 17^th for the school in Muey and December 18^th for the school in Ballanita, the gifts and boxes were delivered to our adopted schools. Does Christmas actually get any better than this!

First the pictures from the delivery of presents, stockings & food boxes for the families in the school in Muey. 
                                                   Of course Papa Noel joined in the fun

And distribution of the food boxes

And families taking their stuff home

And the next day the distribution of presents to the Ballenita School

But that was not all! 

On December 20th, another gringa, Dodie and friends, held a fiesta for the families of the neighborhood guardias.

It really started as just an idea to have a small gathering for approximately 6 families ( with12 children) in the beach neighborhood of Playa Cautivo but ended up with 42 children, 26 parents and 17 expat volunteers on site.

In the end each of the children received a gift (wrapped in a colorful towel) and a stocking ( from Papa Noel that made a special appearance).   A towel to wrap the gifts with as it is more practical to them.  Many of these families share one towel.  It simply made sense to do it that way instead of paper that is thrown away. 

The gifts were distributed by family; so when the entire family came up to sit with Santa, a family photo was taken and before they left, they were each given their printed family photo with a lovely Christmas background. 

Each of the families also received a food basket in a plastic tub with a lid, that would also be useful to them. 

There were 4 craft tables set up which were an absolute hit; each family created a Christmas tree with decorations to bring home.

DJ equipment was donated and Spanish Christmas songs were played.  Children were dancing, playing, creating and each time they passed a 'gringo' these children were giving out hugs freely and often.

                                            Now isn't that a gift that keeps on giving. 

And yet another new tradition from the Gringos that own the B&B Las Palmas on Punta Canero, John & Heather, who started the 'Papa Noel on the Beach' . Over 400 bags of candies were put together and handed out to children on the beach. 

What a totally amazing group of individuals we have in the Salinas/ Ballenita/ Santa Elena area.

Merry Christmas to all and here is the another amazing year in our adopted country!