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A Note about Giving
Oaxaca is one of Mexico’s poorest states. You’ll see many people in need, from tiny children selling chewing gum to ancient-looking beggars on the street. Visitors, of course, can respond in whatever way that feels right to them. A clear and culturally acceptable way to say “no” is simply to wave your index finger from side to side and break off eye contact.
If you would like to help people in need here in a systematic way, we strongly endorse the six local charitable projects listed below. We value what they are doing and we know first hand that contributions go directly to where they are needed:
Libros para Pueblos (Books for small towns) creates and maintains free libraries of high quality children’s books in Spanish in communities in and around Oaxaca. They currently bring the gift of reading to 20,000 children in 28 communities. You can learn more here, at www.librosparapueblos.com, or at the Oaxaca Lending Library at Pino Suarez 519, just south of Llano park.
One of the hundreds of children who now have access to books thanks to Libros para Pueblos
Niños Adelante! (Let’s Go, kids!) provides free, fun, English classes and Headstart-style activities to more than 100 young Oaxacan children at the Lending Library. Like Libros para Pueblos, this program is very sucessful and is growing rapidly. It’s a great way to contribute directly to the Oaxacan community. The Library provides a limited amount of financial assistance, but the program needs much more support since it is growing so rapidly.
Because both of the above programs are part of the Oaxaca Lending Library, donations are tax-exempt for U.S. taxpayers. Checks can be made out to the Oaxaca Lending Library Foundation, Inc. (with a note indicating where you want your donation to go). The library’s mailing address in Mexico is APDO 1351, Centro, 68000, Oaxaca, Mexico. In the US, checks can be sent to 5443 Drover Drive, San Diego, CA 92115. Or, while in Oaxaca you can come by the library and donate in person. You can also donate to Niños Adelante! online and securely using PayPal--Click here.
Albergue Infantil Josefino, A.C. is an orphanage that provides a home and education to orphaned children from throughout the state of Oaxaca. Trusted friends of ours serve on the board or have volunteered here, and vouch for the high quality of services the Albergue provides to hundreds of needy children. If you’re in Oaxaca and want to donate, go to the orphanage, at Cuitláhuoc # 102, Colonia Ixcotel (513 5700). They will be happy to accept a cash or in-kind donation. In the U.S., a check made out to the Albergue Infantil Josefino may be sent to Gretchen Wirtz, 1640 East 50th St. # 21-C, Chicago, IL 60615-3279. For more information, click here.
ProcasaHogar del Niño, A.C. provides a home, education, and other services to orphaned or abandoned boys up to age 15. Their house at Arista # 103 usually shelters from 12 to 15 children. ProcasaHogar is always in need of donations. You can contact the president, Rosa Alba Palacios de Vargas at 514 5923, or her cellphone, 044 951 127 9045. If you’re in Oaxaca and want to donate, call her a day in advance to set up an appointment at the shelter. She’ll be there to accept your donation and give you a receipt. It’s better to donate in cash, since it takes a long time for them to clear a US check. If you want to see some of the children you'll be helping, navigate to: http://picasaweb.google.com/robtadler/TheBoysOfPROCASA?authkey=4KQggAevMeY
Estancia Fraternidad, A.C. Oaxaca’s public hospitals and clinics are underfunded and understaffed. As a result, patients need to have family members there to feed and help care for them. The Estancia Fraternidad provides shelter, food and support to poor families from distant pueblos who come to Oaxaca to care for a hospitalized family member. Since 1991, it has helped nearly 700,000 family members. In the U.S. and Canada checks can be made out to St. Joseph’s Church, and sent to the Estancia Fraternidad's treasurer, Robert Buckley, 2730 Heather View Circle, Marion, Iowa 52302. In Oaxaca, you can drop by their offices at Las Rosas # 723 in Colonia Reforma (513 1930, open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; www.geocities.com/estanciaoaxaca). Donations are tax deductible in the U.S.
Oaxaca Street Children Grassroots helps Oaxaca's most vulnerable residents, its street children, in a variety of ways. To read more about what they do, who they are, and how to help, click here.
"On the Zocalo" is a charming book of Oaxaca-inspired poems and paintings by Alan & Nan Hass Feldman. Proceeds go to Oaxaca Streetchildren Grassroots. If you would like to buy a copy and help these very vulnerable children, please write a note to Nan at nanhassfeldman@aol.com
"Ducks at the fountain in Oaxaca"
from "On the Zocalo"
by Alan and Nan Hass Feldman
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