"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.
_______________________________________________________________
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