Search results matching tags '2010' and 'Community '

12 Days/12 Ways 2010 - Isla Animals on Isla Mujeres

435836 — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 13:16:00 GMT

"On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...."

This beloved traditional holiday song is the inspiration for a seasonal blog series, "12 Days/12 Ways", an effort to draw attention to 12 worthy not for profit groups in Playa del Carmen and along the Riviera Maya and address their particular needs during this holiday season.

For each of the 12 days of Christmas, the BuyPlaya Blog, better known as "Life's a Beach" will spotlight a charitable organization. Many of these may already be familiar to locals and frequent travelers to this area. Others, perhaps those most in need of recognition and support, may be new to our readers. It is my plan to do this every year, with updated information and wish lists.

The "12 Day/12 Ways" list has been completed for 2010. The organizations are listed in no particular order. If you have a favorite charity that you feel belongs on this list, collect all of the information you can and I will be happy to consider your group for inclusion next year.

___________________________________________________________

Isla Animals is a non-profit organization founded by Isla Mujeres resident Alison Sawyer Current continuing a project started by Amigos de los Animales in 2002. Isla Animals is dedicated to decreasing the unwanted pet population on Isla Mujeres, Mexico through on-going spay/neuter programs, education, vaccinations and adoption. Initially Alison and her husband Jeff opened their beautiful home on North Beach and agreed to foster litters of puppies until they were old enough to put up for adoption. This came to be known as “Puppy Camp”. However, the numbers of litters grew and they gracefully adapted their home to accommodate these pups in need.

Keeping on top of these growing dogs became a monumental task. However, as was inevitable, some of the dogs reached adulthood without finding homes and full grown dogs in need of a home began showing up at the gates. Alison lovingly accepted every one of them, regardless of how mangy or sickly they were, and nursed them to physical and psychological health. “Puppy Camp” became a whole new place. After fostering up to 40 dogs at a time, Alison created the Dog Gone Foundation, an adoption program that has placed hundreds of beautiful pups in loving homes.

Isla Animals Goals:

To provide free spay/neuter clinics to help control the animal population on Isla Mujeres.
To provide free or reduced cost veterinary services and vaccinations
To offer animal foster care and promote adoptions in Mexico, USA and Canada
To educate pet owners about humane animal treatment, care and responsibility
To do all of the above in the most humane, compassionate way possible

With your help, Isla Animals can continue to provide these necessary services to the people and the animals of Isla Mujeres.

What can you do?

Donate Funds: Isla Animals, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization, is always in need of additional funding. The programs are funded via donations and 100% of the donations received go to helping the animals. Only with your help can this wonderful work continue. You may make a onetime donation, sign up to donate monthly or you can donate a certain amount of spays and neuters in someone's name. The surgery costs about $20.00usd per animal and it's the bottom line solution to reducing the overpopulation and suffering of unwanted animals in Mexico.

Checks can be made payable to: Alison Sawyer or Isla Animals and sent to the following address:

Alison Sawyer
1750 30th St #197
Boulder CO 80301

Donate Supplies: There are many expenses associated with caring for animals. Any donation is highly appreciated. We are always in need of basic supplies such as flea and tick medication & shampoo, collars, leashes, food, bowls, toys, etc. Medical supplies are in great demand as well as they lower our operating costs greatly thereby increasing the number of animals we can reach. See the list below for medical and non medical supplies we can use.

Medical Supplies Needed:

Syringes 1 cc, 3 cc, 5 cc and 10 cc
Surgical blades – #15, #11
Surgical gloves- STERILE- sizes 6.5 to 8.5
Suture material, 2-O PDS/MSA/vicryl/maxon/polysorb/monosorb
3-O PDS/MSA/Vicryl/maxon/polysorb/monosorb
the above sutures need a 1/2 curved cutting surgical suture needle
Surgical instruments
Spay hooks, all sizes
Sterile drape
Disposable face masks and disposable head caps
Betadyne hand scrub
Prevails Betadyne scrubs #20
Sterile gauze
Stethoscope
IV sets – microdrip and macrodrip
IV catheters – 20 guage, 22 guage, 24 guage
Needles 18 – 23 gauge
IV fluids: dextrose 5% in water, lactated ringers solution and sodium chloride
Triple antibiotic eye ointment
Antibiotics – injectable long acting amoxycillin,
– doxycycline 100 ml. tabs

Non Medical Supplies Needed:

Muzzles
Leashes
Food dishes
Animal Vitamins – especially puppy vitamins or supplemental gels
Eye drops
Ear cleaner
Ear drops
Q-tips
Clippers
Tweezers and scissors
Cages
Towels/Sheets
Non-sterile gauze
Thermometers

Buy the Book: Allison Current is an accomplished writer and the author of the murder mystery No Urn for the Ashes an exciting story set in part on the island of Isla Mujeres. Proceeds from the sale of this book go to support Isla Animals and its ongoing projects and clinics.

*Note: The book is good. Really, quite good. The story is well constructed. The characters are believable and compelling. I picked it up on one of our last trips to the island. I wasn’t expecting much having plodded through dozens of self indulgent novels all based on the “how I moved to paradise” theme. This is a great read for the beach or the ski lodge, whichever suits your fancy.

Volunteer: Volunteers are always needed and welcome! There is always a need for people to help walking dogs, socializing puppies, bathing and grooming, cleaning and making repairs to kennels etc.

During spay neuter clinics which are scheduled throughout the year, help is needed with trapping, registration, recovery, organizing and cleaning, plus pick up and return of animals.

You can volunteer whatever amount of time you can afford and you’ll have a vacation experience that will be fun and fulfilling.

For those people with allergies (like me) there is administrative work that can be done as well as research and grant writing. These things can even be done from the comfort of your home or office no matter where you live!

For more information:
Alison Sawyer Current
bayfirestd@aol.com
www.islaanimals.org

Raffle for Angel Notion - WIN a 2011 FORD Eco-Sport!

435836 — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 16:43:00 GMT

Angel Notion would like to give you the opportunity to WIN a 2011 NEW FORD Eco sport.

Raffle STARTING TONIGHT on 5th Avenue and 14th Street.
500 pesos or 50 bucks and ONLY 1500 tickets to be sold. You can buy the tickets starting this evening or go to ANGEL NOTION'S Website

Don’t forget to specify that the donation is for the raffle.

The raffle will take place on the 6th of January 2011. If you do not live in Playa but have visited or live here part time and you win, you can give the ticket or car to your favorite waiter, or maid, or someone special you met: random acts of kindness!! Or of course you can give it to Angel Notion clinic too! 50 dollars that will change someones life including yours!!!! Good Luck !! Feliz Navidad!!!!! Thank you so much for your support!!!
___________________________________________________________________

Tu tienes un chance de ganar una 2011 FORD Eco Sport! RIFA de Angel Notion.
COMPRAR los boletos HOY mismo. El eco sport va a estar en la Quinta con Calle 14 hoy en la tarde a las 6 de la tarde, 500 pesos y SOLO 1500 boletos, tu puedes comprar en el sitio en donde esta el caro con representante de Angel Notion o compra en el sitio de web http://www.angelnotion.org/act-now/ .

Recuerdate de ponerlo que la donacion es para la rifa del coche.

La Rifa va a vencer el 6 de Enero de 2011. Si tu ganas esta 2011 eco sport tu puedes darlo a una person especial en tu vida o cambiar una vida o donar a un familia , o donar a la clinica Angel Notion o ganar por tu familia .. Buena suerte !! Feliz navidad!! Muchas gracias por todo tu apoyo.

WITH YOUR HELP AND your DONATIONS WE CAN MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL once AGAIN FOR THE the needy and neglected OF PLAYA and all of Quintana Roo. PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY!

12 Days/12 Ways 2010 - PEACE Isla Mujeres

435836 — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 16:09:00 GMT

"On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...."

____________________________________________________________

PEACE Isla Mujeres is PEACE Isla Mujeres is an initiative of PEACE, a nonprofit community organization based in Punta de Mita, Mexico. PEACE is a recognized 501(c)(3) in the United States and a recognized A.C. in Mexico. PEACE Isla Mujeres is a nonprofit organization created to improve the community of Isla Mujeres through Protection and Education re: Animals, Culture & the Environment. A focus is placed on educational opportunities, youth development, environmental responsibility, animal care and protection and economic empowerment. PEACE strives to improve the community of Isla Mujeres through :

educational opportunities
youth development
environmental responsibility
animal care and protection
economic empowerment

PEACE Isla Mujeres began with a small group of volunteers interested in the growth, future and integrity of social projects on the island. After a few informal conversations around kitchen tables, weekly meetings open to the community were established and together with the collaboration of PEACE Mexico A.C., a newly hired executive director and a gang of volunteers and community organizations, a new community-based nonprofit was formed.

PEACE Isla Mujeres consists of both locals and foreigners who care greatly for Isla Mujeres. The following goals have been established for this new community-wide nonprofit:

1. Support for existing non-profit/community groups that have a proven track record of response to community needs

2. Support for short-term, one-time, and/or emergency response projects

3. Support for new nonprofit/community initiatives with development and direction

We achieve these goals through community support, grant endowment, fundraising for local efforts, emergency response, consultation and networking.

Since its inception PEACE Isla Mujeres has awarded over $340,000 mn to community programs on the island!

How can you help?

Donate Funds: PEACE Isla Mujeres is always in need of donations. If you would like to donate we are officially a nonprofit and you will receive a tax deductible receipt. Many companies are now giving matching grants to their employee's charity of choice. Ask your employer about making a matching grant to PEACE Isla Mujeres.

Donate Toys: Currently there is a toy drive being held for the holidays to provide the less fortunate children on the island with a toy of their very own for Christmas. If you are coming to Isla Mujeres, please consider packing a few Barbie Dolls or Hot Wheels in your suitcase!

Donate Supplies: Our affiliated organizations are always in need of useful supplies. Below is a list of supplies requested by several community organizations including The Little Yellow Schoolhouse and La Gloria English School. A wishlist of items is below and a full list including much needed items for local veterinarians, Isla Animals and The Red Cross can be found here.

All material/games need to be in Spanish. Materials for older children (8+) are a priority.

Toner for a photocopy machine - PC 940 CANON
Ink cartridges for a printer- HP 56 and 57
Didactic games for children over 8 years old
Three dimensional puzzles of different shapes
Materials to identify body parts (in Spanish and not puzzles)
Games for memory; auditory and tactile (but not cards)
Materials/manipulatives to use for separation, classification, and matching (but not cards)
Materials for Spanish vocabulary (not cards)
Materials where the objective is to search for the hidden objects in a figure
Cassette tapes of musical instruments, transportation, animals, etc.
Toys with Spanish sounds
Acrylic paint
Oil paint
Childrens' scissors
Paint boxes
Pencils
Colored pencils
Colored printer paper
Erasers
Rulers
markers
Glue
Games that focus on special dates (Mexico), principally for children 8-12 years old

For a new life-skills area, the school is in need of the following kitchen items:

Plastic place settings (non-disposable)
dishes
pots and pans
toaster oven
blender

Contribute to the ReSale Shop: Gently worn closed and used items are gladly welcomed for resale at the PEACE Isla Mujeres resale boutique. 100% of the funds raised go to help support community programs and purchase badly needed supplies and equipment.

Buy the PEACE Cookbook: Now available to reserve at the pre-sale price of just $20 usd or $250 mn - the second edition of "Cocina Isleña" is a fantastic BILINGUAL (Spanish-English) cookbook offering nearly 200 recipes from local and international residents and restaurants of Isla Mujeres. The collection was created with the flavor and available ingredients of Isla Mujeres in mind – and comes complete with stories to go with many of the recipes, tips on using and purchasing local produce, measuring/heat conversions, and more! Pre-sale prices are valid on completed made on or before December 24, 2010. Shipping to the US is available.

Volunteer: PEACE Isla Mujeres welcomes volunteers. Whether you live on the island or are coming to the island for vacation, PEACE Isla Mujeres will help you find a volunteer opportunity. There are many wonderful community groups who would welcome your participation. Whether you have just an hour to give or a half day or a few days, there is always a way to help out.

Volunteer Vacations are also arranged in cooperation with Destination: PEACE. During a Destination:PEACE Volunteer Vacation, guests will experience another culture while making a difference in the lives of others: children, women, families, animals and the environment. Volunteers help raise awareness, reinforce a sense of world community and bring hope to the people and animals affiliated with PEACE Isla Mujeres. Each five-day vacation combines volunteerism with the practice of yoga, introduces participants to authentic Mexican cuisine, and enables them to explore the region and experience cultural or adventure activities.

For more information:
Anna Douglas
anna@peace-islamujeres.org
www.peace-islamujeres.org
+52 1 99 82 243 323 (Outside of Mexico)
99 82 243 323 (Mexico)
651 222 9482 (US)

12 Days/12 Ways 2010 - Malix Pek A.C. in Playa del Carmen

435836 — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:00:00 GMT

"On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...."

______________________________________________________________

Malix Pek A.C., started in 2008, is a registered non-profit (Asociación Civil) comprised of a group of Volunteers dedicated to the rescue and adoption of abandoned and mistreated dogs. Malix is Maya for dog of no origin or colloquially, "street dog", and describes the dogs that this organization was formed to assist. Malix Pek was started by a group of local people who loves dogs and all animals. Their goal is to decrease the number of street dogs here in Playa del Carmen. How will they achieve this?

Sterilization: While there are many dogs living on the streets of Playa del Carmen, many more are “owned” by individuals who are unable or unwilling to care for them properly. These dogs continue to reproduce unchecked. Malix Pek volunteers work in cooperation with all sterilizations campaigns including the annual ViDAS Clinic by transporting animals and assisting with registrations and post operative services.

Education: The members that make up Malix Pek are primarily local people living in the community. They are in a great position to TALK to people in their neighborhoods, explain the importance of sterilization and make them aware of spay/neuter clinics that are FREE of charge. Malix Pek brings their mission to local schools, community centers and radio programs, whatever it takes to spread the word near and far.

So far, Malix Pek has re-homed more than 120 dogs and spayed/neutered more than 150. (April 2010)

How can you help?

Donate: If you are coming to Playa del Carmen, Malix Pek needs all kind of supplies:

Frontline

De-worming meds

Antibiotics

Suture 1.0 and 2.0

Anesthetic (Zoletyl for example)

Gauze

Old Sheets/towels

Garbage bags

Old Newspapers

Shampoo

Ear Cleaner

Nail Clippers

Cleaning products

Hydrogen Peroxide

Collars/leashes

Garrafones of Water

Dog food

Food Dishes

A contribution to Malix Pek can make a difference between the life and death of a stray animal. Monetary donations made be made to the following account:

Banco: HSBC
Cuenta: 4048319735
Clabe Interbancaria: 021694040483197354
Beneficiario: Malix Pek AC
Sucursal 03727
Plaza 33
Swift: BIMEMXMM

Volunteer: Malix Pek is always looking for volunteers to help out with the dogs as well as organize and assist with fundraising efforts. Malix Pek does not receive funds from the Government of Quintana Roo. Their efforts depend solely on donations and fundraising events. Malix Pek currently has 24 dogs/puppies that have been rescued from horrifying situations. They are currently housed in a rented space in Playa. They have hopes to build their own yard but this project is on hold until adequate funds can be secured.

For more information:

Malix Pek Website
Malix Pek on Facebook
info@malixpek.org.mx
malix_pek@hotmail.com

12 Days/12 Ways 2010 - El Mundo Para Puerto Morelos SC

435836 — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:37:00 GMT

"On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...."

_______________________________________________________________

El Mundo Para Puerto Morelos SC A Charity for the Community, Puerto Morelos, Mexico - Determining the Need, Implementing the Solution. Our goal is to inspire the citizens and friends of Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico to enrich their lives and their community in the areas of health, education, and welfare through financial generosity and volunteer commitment.

Through research and open communication EMPPM determines needs that are not being met through normal bureaucratic channels, work with community leaders to identify solutions to meet those needs, then focuses on the steps necessary to implement plans for solving the issues. Please join EMPPM in supporting this small, beautiful, thriving fishing community struggling to maintain its autonomy in a world of international tourists.

El Mundo Para Puerto Morelos began in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes Wilma and Emily. In October, 2005, a group of local expatriates were made aware of a disturbing problem in one of the primary schools. With an enrollment of 700 and a water system damaged by the storms, the students and faculty were only able to flush the toilet twice a day, and had no water for hand washing. The locals responded by reaching into their pockets asking how much it would cost. Thus began the organization and establishment of El Mundo Para Puerto Morelos, SC, (The World for Puerto Morelos), and its first project of successfully replacing the school's entire water system.

EMPPM responded, and still responds, to the needs of this rapidly growing community. This civil organization provides assistance for pregnant women with no money for vitamins or a healthy diet, medical clinics in desperate need of supplies, schools with little or no resources, and emergency responders with no safety equipment. EMPPM seeks to fill these needs by organizing and, supporting community activities and fund-raising events, supplying desperately needed supplies and equipment, and supporting special construction projects. Ninety five percent of all donations go directly to these community needs, with five per cent covering administrative costs.

El Mundo Para Puerto Morelos is certified as non-profit in Mexico and in the United States (Friends of El Mundo Para Puerto Morelos), as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, Tax ID# 80-0515521. The focus has been on enriching the lives of everyone in the community through maintenance and improvement in the areas of health, education, and welfare.

With the help of tourists, friends, expats, and local residents EMPPM has been able to tackle major issues in our community, aiding the emergency responders, medical clinics, and educational facilities and families with special programs, supplies, and equipment. EMPPM looks forward to continuing this assistance through contributions and donations from supporters, both worldwide and local.

How can you help?

Donate!

Monetary donations are welcomed and much needed to continue the in valuable programs initiated by EMPPM. For monetary donations in the US:

Make checks payable to: El Mundo para Puerto Morelos
Mail to our US Rep:
c/o Kay R. McMillan
4115 Honeycomb Rock Circle
Austin, Texas 78731-2015 USA
(You will receive official acknowledgment of your contribution for tax purposes)

In Mexico, donations of cash or much needed items from the wish list can be dropped off in the village of Puerto Morelos at:

Mama's Bakery: North of Police Station
Dive In Puerto Morelos: Next to Mama's Bakery
Mayan Riviera Properties: Beach side of Town Square

This year, Kinder Francisco Madero (kindergarten on the beach front in Puerto Morelos) is the focus for EMPPM. This small school needs a lot of things to bring them up to standard.

Stove, microwave and refrigerator for food storage and preparation
Plastic playground equipment (available here at around 2500 usd)
Digital camera
CD player/radio, small boom-box
Portable sound system with microphone
32” Flat-screen TV
30” Sony Trinitron TV
Ceiling fans (10)
HP Computer
HP Deskjet printer
Wooden bookshelves (6)
Plastic chairs for kids (20)
Sunscreen/cover for playground area
Plastic games and puzzles

Minisplit air conditioners (3)

Exterior Paint (3 buckets)

Interior Paint - acrylic, white and primary colors (20 liters)

Additionally, there are other schools and organizations also desperately in need of assistance and contributions. Items needed include:

Large wooden geometry sets (contain meter stick, compass, triangle) – for teachers
Student spiral bound notebooks – with lines and with squares (but not tiny squares)
Assorted easy to read books in Spanish (BookWorms is a good series with a variety of topics. Published by Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, New York
Computers
Reams and Reams of colored paper
Colored pencils and Pencils
School scissors, glue, staplers
Educational wall decorations and mobiles – planet systems, biology, geology etc in Spanish if possible
Air conditioning units - mini splits (4)
Chairs for teachers - many needed
Paint for school walls and cleaning equipment
Tooth brushes and toothpaste
Math flash cards
Educational toys (not battery-operated)
Toy building materials such (like large Lego)
Stickers
Art supplies – paints, brushes
Plastic containers for storage
Buckets of white paint
Microscope for Biology
Set of good sound speakers for practicing English
Security bars and doors
Trees and shrubs
Benches for the children to eat out doors
Sports equipment - basketball rings and nets, soccer nets, balls, volleyball net
Rubber boots for the fire department - sizes 5-10
Examination and resuscitation equipment and supplies
X-ray machine and supplies
Paramedic supplies, stretchers, wheel chairs, crutches, splints
General and obstetric medicines

For more information:
Cat Brown
catbrown@emppm.com
52 998 251 8060 Mexico
512-410-8146 USA
www.emppm.com

12 Days/12 Ways 2010 - Coco's Cat Rescue in Playa del Carmen

435836 — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:05:00 GMT

“On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me….”

This beloved traditional holiday song is the inspiration for a seasonal blog series, “12 Days/12 Ways”, an effort to draw attention to 12 worthy not for profit groups in Playa del Carmen and along the Riviera Maya and address their particular needs during this holiday season.

For each of the 12 days of Christmas, the BuyPlaya Blog, better known as “Life’s a Beach” will spotlight a charitable organization. Many of these may already be familiar to locals and frequent travelers to this area. Others, perhaps those most in need of recognition and support, may be new to our readers. It is my plan to do this every year, with updated information and wish lists.

The “12 Day/12 Ways” list has been completed for 2010. The organizations are listed in no particular order. If you have a favorite charity that you feel belongs on this list, collect all of the information you can and I will be happy to consider your group for inclusion next year.

______________________________________________________________

Coco's Cat Rescue is a non-profit organization started by Laura Raikes in March of 2009. Since Laura was a young girl she was helping her dad in farming and started rescuing all kinds of animals from bats to dogs, cats and even bottle feeding goats and lambs. One of the rescued cats was Igor who had only one eye after an attack by a crow. He is still a much loved family pet back home in Wales.

After moving to Mexico and marrying her husband Carlos their cat Coco was run over, as many of the drivers in Mexico see cats as a pest and make no attempt to avoid them if they see them on the road. Laura decided she wanted to help address the problem of too many stray cats-which leads them to be cruelly treated.

A week after Coco's death, Laura heard a distressed kitten "Rambo" in the jungle, hence the name Rambo. She has then continued her work rescuing kittens and spaying/neutering feral cats in her efforts to help the animal population in the Riviera Maya. Each kitten that is rescued is in dedication to her very own lost pet Coco.

Also working on reducing the population, Laura began a spay and neuter clinic working with Kelley Anthony and the veterinarian Claudia Lewy spaying and neutering feral cats, rescued kittens and pets whose owners simply could not afford to sterilize their cats. Laura realized more needed to be done and asked for support from more vets. Before long, seven different vets in Playa were volunteering in the spay/neuter program for cats organized by Laura.

As the support grew for the project Laura began to meet many other dedicated volunteers and saw the need and opportunity for something bigger. Therefore in dedication to Coco, Coco's Cat Rescue was created.

Coco's Cat Rescue has a no kill policy and is dedicated to reducing the cat population in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. They achieve this via a TNR (trap spay/neuter and return) program for feral cats, and a rescue, treat, spay/neuter, and tame program for kittens under 3 months. The aim is to find a permanent loving home for all the rescued kittens in their care.

Coco's Cat Rescue provides free or low cost spay/neuter surgeries and basic pet care to those on a low income. While the primary focus is cats, Coco's clinic also provides spay/neuter services for dogs through grants from Sociedad Protección Animales de Peninsula (SPAP) and Veterinarios Internacionales Dedicados a Animales Sanos (VIDAS).

CCR is also committed to education which encourages responsible pet ownership and challenges negative associations with feral cats and consequent cruelty. Their long term mission is to greatly increase the number of animals that they are able to assist and expand their model to embrace other local areas in need of services.

Why Coco's is Not a Shelter

Coco's mission is not to be a shelter. When quarantine space allows, they can take a rescued kitten into Coco's care. They help kittens as space allows. Coco’s primary mission is Spaying and neutering which addresses the bigger/ongoing problem. There will never be a shelter big enough for all the cats and kittens on the streets which is why Coco’s Cat Rescue chooses not to become a shelter and to focus on spay and neuter. This way they are preventing the problem and in the long run preventing the unwanted animals on the streets from being born. When you look at the statistics of how there are over 14,000 cats on the streets in Playa alone it is crucial that CCR focus on spay and neuter.

Why Coco’s Cat Rescue is full at times:

With over 14,000 cats and kittens on the streets of Playa del Carmen alone Coco’s Cat Rescue is overwhelmed with kittens most of the time. As they do not have a shelter and only have space for 15-20 kittens at any one time they are almost always full. Coco’s Cat Rescue has very strict quarantine rules. When a new kitten arrives at Coco’s Cat Rescue it must be kept separate from other kittens for at least 15 days meanwhile the kitten undergoes treatment for parasites and receives its first vaccine. There are also many other contagious conditions like a virus or skin conditions like ring worm and mange which require a longer quarantine. CCR prefers to have 20 healthy kittens than 50 sick ones even if this means having to say no to people who ask them to take in more rescued kittens. Some illnesses are life threatening and by putting one sick kitten in a room with 10 other healthy ones they could end up losing them all!

In order to better assist and support those animals they cannot accept at a certain time, Coco's Cat Rescue has started a new program and hopes to be able to help more people to foster and ultimately find homes for the kittens they find or rescue.

When kittens cannot be taken in by Coco's due to space being full they can assist you with these things:

Free spay and neuter
Free first rabies vaccinations.
Free de-parasite meds
Free general exam for rescued animal with Coco's Vet
Free meds/help if the rescued kitten is injured
Free kitten milk, bottle and a lesson on how to care for younger kittens who can not eat by themselves.
Easy to use Poster Template for creating adoption posters.

This program is for rescued kittens only that have not yet been adopted. Coco's Cat Rescue is not able to offer vaccinations or general exams for people’s pets. We would like to continue to support the local vets who work hard and helped us get the program going.

Coco's does have a permanent spay and neuter clinic for OWNED dogs or cats and rescued animals.

How you can help:

Donate! Good News for US Donors! Through collaboration with "ViDAS" a US, animal welfare organization, your generous gift to Coco's Cat Rescue is now tax-deductible! To obtain your tax-deductible receipt, checks may be made payable to "ViDAS," and mailed to P.O. Box 20246, Boulder, CO 80308-3246. Please list "Coco’s Cat Rescue" in the memo section on the check. Sponsor a kitten each month for any donation.

Buy a Coco's Cat Rescue 2011 Calendar! 12 stunning photographs of the charming Coco's kittens. A must buy for cat lovers! Only $20 USD or $250 MXN!Buy 5 Get 1 Free!! That's $100 USD for 6 calendars! Makes a great Holiday gift or stocking stuffer for the cat lovers in your life!

Adopt a kitty! There are many kittens looking for a forever home. To adopt a kitten you will be asked to give a donation of 250 pesos. This includes the spay/neuter of the kitten. You will also be asked to bring a copy of your ID, proof of where you live, fill out the adoption form and answer some questions. Coco's does all they can to ensure that the kittens are going to the best of homes!

Cross border adoptions are very easy. CCR will sort out all the paperwork and can help find a "mule" if you are unable to take the kitten home yourself. You will be responsible for paying the flight fee and the adoption fee of 250 pesos.

Volunteer! Coco's is always in need of volunteers! You may help by fostering a kitten, helping to trap feral cats and transporting animals from the pereara. Allergic to cats (like me)? There are still many ways you can help. You may collect donations from drop boxes, shop for supplies, manage the transportation calendar, write grants and proposals or assist with annual projects like the calendar and the cookbook.

Contribute items from the wishlist: From the wish list the most needed items right now are:
Cat Traps
Flea and tick meds for dogs and cats
Dog and cat cages
Kitten powder milk
De-worming medicine

In total, 1755 animals have been spayed/neutered since Coco's Cat Rescue began in March 2009!

For more information:
Laura Jonguitud Raikes
President & Founder
Coco's Cat Rescue
info@cocoscatrescue.org
984-120-0572
www.cocoscatrescue.org

12 Days/12 Ways 2010 - Hekab Be Library in Akumal

435836 — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:00:00 GMT

"On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...."

For each of the 12 days of Christmas, the BuyPlaya Blog, better known as "Life's a Beach", will spotlight a charitable organization. Many of these may already be familiar to locals and frequent travelers to this area. Others, perhaps those most in need of recognition and support, may be new to our readers. It is my plan to do this every year, with updated information and wish lists.

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Hekab Be Library promotes literacy and learning opportunities among children and adults in Quintana Roo, Mexico, in order to meet their educational goals. Serving as a tool for educational, social and economic progress, we provide individuals and families with resources for scholastic advancement, helping improve people’s language and literacy skills, while promoting cultural preservation and awakening the desire to understand other customs and ways of thinking.

The Hekab Be Library acquaints young children with books, provides learning resources for school children, offers literacy and writing classes in the Spanish language for adults, offers classes in the English language for older children and adults, conducts programs in the Maya language, and offers classes in the Maya language.

Current most needed items include:

HP printer cartridges, the following models: hp 21 black; hp 22 tricolor
Blank sheets of colored computer printer paper, various colors
Pocket folders (2 pocket)
Scotch tape and/or scotch tape dispensers
3 laptop locks, or a cable that would enable us to lock all 3 laptops together
AA batteries

Other items needed:

Packs of solid colored craft foam sheets, used for arts and crafts projects
Colored pencils
Liquid white glue such as Elmer's
Water based/washable liquid paints such as Crayola kids paint (liter size or larger)
Construction paper
Laminating sheets, various sizes, but especially letter size
Child safe scissors with rounded points
3 ring binders
Letter size clear plastic sleeves that can be used in a 3 ring binder
Thick or jumbo crayons
Play Doh (or generic brand)-- small size cans keep longer in this climate
Bead sets for making bracelets and necklaces
White-out or any brand of liquid corrector
Poster board, white or any color. Sam's and City Club in Playa del Carmen sell this in packs of 100-200 sheets
Various kinds of paper to use in art projects: tissue paper, crepe paper & shiny/foil paper in assorted colors
Blank white paper (8-1/2 x 11) such as copy paper or any standard paper sold in bulk

Here is a list of gifts that children who frequent the library said they would like to receive for Christmas. Of course, the library welcomes any kind of toy donations and help give these special children a very Merry Christmas! The Annual Hekab Be Christmas Party will be on Sunday, December 19 at 3 p.m. Please try to attend if you are in town!

Backpacks for boys and girls, including backpacks with wheels
Roller skates for kids 8 yrs and older
Soccer balls, volleyballs
Kids’ watches
Hannah Montana pencil cases
Skateboards
Dress shoes for girls
Sneakers for boys and girls, soccer cleats for boys
Clothing for boys and girls
Toy cars (generally we ask that people give toys which don’t require batteries since families can’t afford to replace them)
Stuffed animals
Bags or small purses for middle school age girls
Chemistry sets for kids
Barbies or other similar dolls
Dora the explorer doll
Puzzles
Board games (with instructions in Spanish or games that don’t require instruction)

Monetary donations are greatly appreciated to keep all the wonderful library programs running and can be made through this site. If you are in Akumal, your donations can be left with Carlos at the library. Spanish language books for all reading levels are always welcomed! If you are not going to be in Akumal in time for Christmas but would like to send us some toys or books, email the library and they may be able to find someone who can bring it down: akumallibrary@gmail.com.

12 Days/12 Ways 2010 - Angel Notion in Playa del Carmen

435836 — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:00:00 GMT

"On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...."

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Angel Notion is the only non-profit medical clinic in the Playa del Carmen area. At Christmas time Angel Notion truly does become an Angel to the community with programs that provide toys and food to needy families for the holiday season. Angel Notion has four separate programs for giving during the season:

The special needs (developmentally disabled) children from the CAM school have their Santa wishes fulfilled in a special program.
Thousands of soccer balls and Barbie dolls are distributed to children in the neighborhoods on Christmas Eve.
Food baskets for the elderly or single, needy people in the community are distributed on Christmas Eve
Donors can sponsor families for Christmas. For a $75 usd donation, Angel Notion will provide the chosen families with food, toys and blankets on Christmas Eve.

All of these special Christmas programs are possible by an amazing family of volunteers and donors that step up each season to donate money and time to make these dreams a reality.

How can you help?

Purchase or sponsor the purchase of a toy for one (or more) of the students from CAM (Centro de Atención Múltiple), a local school which educates children and adults born with a host of special needs/disabilities like cerebral palsy, neurological lesions, Down syndrome, visual/hearing impairments, motor disabilities, etc. Heather Anderson has compiled a wonderful list of all the students and their Christmas wishes which can be found here on playa.info. You may contact her through the forum for more information and to help make someone's dream come true.

If you are coming to Playa del Carmen for the holidays, think about bringing a few soccer balls and/or Barbie Dolls in your luggage. No baggage allowance to spare? Mega and Walmart always have a great selection of Barbies and balls on sale for reasonable prices. While you are in the grocery store, you might consider picking up a few extra canned goods to contribute to the annual food drive. Toys and food can be dropped off at the clinic (address below) or, even better, come to the fabulous Holiday Party at Luna Blue Hotel and bring your donated items with you! Toys will be distributed on 5th Avenue and at the Clinic in Nicte Ha. Food will be given out at the clinic on December 24th.

Please go to the Angel Notion website to donate money to help us fulfill Christmas wishes. All of the Angel Notion programs and services start with generous donations. Please give from the bottom of your heart and they will thank you from the bottom of theirs.

Volunteers are needed for the Christmas events, which will take place in the evenings from 4.30pm - 9.30pm, December 16th - 23rd. Please consider taking a shift - or a few shifts - walking with Santa Clause or manning the big Christmas Tree on 5th Avenue at Calle 14. Each night, eight volunteers will be needed to inform people about Angel Notion, help Santa with taking pictures and receive donations. At least some of the volunteers should have good knowledge about Angel Notion and its community programs and support services. For more information and to sign up to help, please contact Rikke Olsen, rikke[at]angelnotion[dot]org.

For more information about Angel Notion contact:
Lavonna Redman
Angel Notion/Ayuda de los Angels A.C.
Ave 10 entre Electrista y Plomero
Colonia Nicte ha
Playa del Carmen Q.Roo
984 127 0780 Celular
984 85 92625 Clinic in Playa
www.angelnotion.org

Ak Lu’um International School Inspires Parents and Children to “Think Green”

435836 — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:53:00 GMT

On Sunday, December 5, parents and children from all across the Riviera Maya and as far away as Mexico City gathered together at Ak Lu’um International School in Playa del Carmen, to participate in the 1st annual Family Eco-Challenge, a contest which invited families to design and build a unique toy or game that encourages play without doing harm to the environment. Each of the 28 submissions, constructed using organic materials, materials from sustainable sources and/or recycled objects, was evaluated by an expert panel of invited guests and judged in several categories: most original, most ecological, most durable and most beautiful. The grand prize, a full year scholarship to Ak Lu’um International School, was awarded to the Marentes Macías family for their free-standing drum kit made entirely from found and recycled objects

“This first Eco Challenge was a bit of an experiment.” remarked school leader and event organizer Siobhan Bowers. “The thought and creativity that each family put into their toy was inspiring. The interest and support from not only the local community but also from National and International organizations has been tremendous.” Sitting on the panel of judges were environmental and educational officers from the Municipal Government of Solidaridad, program directors from Flora, Fauna y Cultura de Mexico A.C. and delegates from the COP16/CMP6 Climate Change Summit in Cancun, representing El Salvador, Guatemala and Cuba.

The members of the organizing committee are already making plans for next year. Delegates from Cuba, delighted with the event, are considering a similar contest to be conducted in parallel with Eco Challenge 2011. Event organizers hope to inspire other nations to do the same, encouraging families across the globe to “Think Green”.

Go Green on the Riviera Maya - 10 Money and Energy Saving Tips

435836 — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:57:00 GMT

Although the COP16 Climate Change Summit is nearly wrapping up in Cancun, it seems the whole Yucatan Peninsula is still on the Go Green bandwagon. There are special programs going on in the schools to educate the next generation of energy consumers about how to make choices that are better for our environment. Art exhibits, film festivals, eco-fairs and even a family Eco Challenge hosted by Playa del Carmen's Ak Lu'um International School! We have also seen a lot of information on the internet offering ideas for environmentally friendly living with tips from all over the globe.

For our part, as we move forward with the plans for our new home, we are investigating and hoping to implement as many energy saving and eco-friendly systems into our design as possible. For many home builders and home owners on the Riviera Maya, the choice to install eco-friendly systems may come down to availability, affordability and the possibility of finding replacement parts and someone capable of doing the necessary maintenance and/or repairs. Over the past two years, we have seen solar and wind energy options increase in popularity and decrease in price but the up front investment is still well out of reach of many people. many of the residents of Playa del Carmen are here in a long term rental, a villa or condominium they plan to stay in for a year or more but do not own. Retrofitting a rental with solar panels is certainly out of the question but that does not mean that this large segment of the Playa population cannot incorporate green thinking into their daily life. Here is a list of ten ways to help save the environment and, at the same time, keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket whether you own or rent a home in Playa del Carmen.

1. Replace all your incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent light bulbs. They are expensive so if you are in a rental, save the old incandescent bulbs in a safe place and replace them when you leave. Think of you florescent bulbs as an investment in the environment and your pocketbook!

2. Set your air conditioners to a higher temperature and only air condition the room you are in. While most of the homes we see down here have a very open floor-plan downstairs, bedrooms can always be sealed off to prevent loss of cold air. Try keeping your thermostat set for 26 Celsius. Setting your temperature even 5 degrees lower can make your air conditioner use up to 40% more energy costing you lots more money. Run your ceiling fans. Using fans to circulate the cool air means you don't need quite as much pumped into the room.

3. If you have a private pool, install a timer on your pool pump/filter. The average pool with average use really only needs to be filtered 8 out of every 24 hours (more in the rainy season). Why run it more than you have to. You may have to purchase a timer in the US or Canada and bring it down but it will be easy and inexpensive to install and will save you loads of money on your electric bill.

4. Install and use curtains or blinds. Take the time to find where the sun shines brightly through your windows. In the winter time (believe it or not) you will welcome this warmth. The rest of the year you will want to block as much of this light/energy/heat as possible by using blinds or curtains. There are special materials available that really reflect the sun away but if the price is an issue, some window covering is better than none at all.

5. Carry your own shopping bag. There are inexpensive options for sale in Sam’s Club and most grocery stores. DAC has the traditional plastic mesh shopping bags and if you are looking for a more fashionable alternative, www.totelemonde.com/mx from WearEarth is the way to go!

6. Buy a bicycle and use it whenever you are going to work or school. There is nothing in downtown Playa that is not easily accessible by bike. With parking becoming more and more of a nightmare, you can avoid all the hassle by jumping on your cruiser and fitting it with a good bike lock. We buy all of our bikes at Bicicletas Luisito on the corner of Ave. 30 and Calle 30 but they are also available at Walmart, Sam’s Club, City Club and many other places. Shop around but definitely bring your bike maintenance needs to Senor Luis. We call him the “Bike Nazi” but he is the best!

7. Turn off your computer/laptop when you are done using it. Do the same with your TV rather than just switching off the cable/satellite box. Those nice big flat panels throw off an awful lot of heat and make your AC/mini-splits work lot harder.

8. Recycle! The Municipality accepts all recycled items including appliances and batteries on the first Friday of every month. In Playa del Carmen there is a collection center set up in front of the Municipal Plaza. In Puerto Aventuras, you may leave your recyclable items in the “centro de acopio” at the skate park. Some of the schools run their own abbreviated recycling program and bins can be found now at most of not all of the supermarkets and big box stores but the best place to go is Parque la Ceiba. They operate the most complete recycling center in Playa del Carmen and provide many educational programs for school children to teach them the three “R”s. Tin cans from soda, vegetables, tuna fish etc. can be rinsed out and left in a used grocery bag next to your large garbage bin. The guys that collect the trash will appreciate it as they will return them for cash.

8. Save water! Energy efficient shower heads (same pressure but less water flow) will save approximately 17,800 of water and 72 cubic meters of natural gas per year. Install faucet aerators. This small inexpensive adjustment can save up to 9,000 liters of water and 28 cubic meters of natural gas per year. Reduce the amount of water used with each toilet flush by reducing the capacity of toilets with a 2 liter bottle of water. Fill the bottle with water, close it tightly and submerge it in your toilet tank. A family of five that flushes five times a day each -- the US national average -- will save about 700 liters of water each month.

9. Buy an insulating “blanket” for your hot water tank. Insulating your hot water tank can save 25-40% of heat loss. I know it sounds crazy here in the tropics but insulating your hot water tank will significantly reduce the amount of gas used and reduce wear and tear on your tank. Keep in mind; some systems specifically state that an insulating cover may not be used. Check your appliance manual first and have a professional (stop giggling) do the work.

10. Carry a thermos/water bottle with you and reuse it. It is so important to keep hydrated here and purchasing bottled purified water is a necessary evil. That doesn’t mean you have to stop into Oxxo 5 times a day for a bottle of water. Find a nice insulated water bottle and refill it from your garrafon at home. Stuck out without your thermos? Buy bottle water but don’t throw away the bottle. Bring it home and reuse it. We keep several bottles of cold water in the fridge at all times so we can grab them on the fly.