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Donating Your Shopping Change for Children
Small Change Can Make a Big Difference – Fundación Ayuda Niños La Paz, A.C. and CCC
If you are like me, you hate those small coins given out by supermarkets that so easily get lost in your purses or drag down your pockets and are worth absolutely “nada.” If you shop at the La Paz supermarkets “Centro Comerical Californiano” (CCC), you may be asked by the cashier when paying for your groceries if you would like to “donar los centavos” (donate your centavos).
From January 30 through April 30 of this year, FANLAP is the civil organization benefited by this civically responsible company which collects the change donated by its clients. Although the individual donations may be only a few pennies, they mount up.
The last organization to benefit from this program, KUMI, (a drug treatment center) received a check for more than 119,000 pesos (close to 10,000 US). So when you are asked if you want to “donar los centavos”, please say “Si.” The proceeds will be used for scholarships to junior and senior high school for school year 2010-2011.
Apart from the “redondeo” program, CCC also gives one point for each 50 pesos spent in their stores. If you wish to donate these points to FANLAP, pick up a “points card” at Marina de la Paz. If you already have your own card, ask one of the supervisors to transfer your points to FANLAP. These points also accumulate, and the Foundation has received up to 300 USD a month worth of purchases from this source from the points.
The “redondeo” happens to terminate on the 30th of April, which is the “Dia del Niño” (day of the child). CCC will present the check for the proceeds donated by their clients to FANLAP at a celebration of the children of the colonias with a clown, “bucito” (the pearl diver on the logo of CCC), candy and toys for the children of the colonias where we concentrate our major efforts.
The main programs of FANLAP are: a dining room in Colonia Laguna Azul, where an average of 150 children receive a hot lunch 5 days a week during the school year.
Scholarships where uniforms, school shoes and tennis shoes, backpacks and school supplies are given to children who would not otherwise attend junior or senior high school because of the costs involved. In most cases transportation to and from school and tuition costs are also paid.
And our newest accomplishment, a library/study center in the same building as our dining room, where students have a quiet place complete with computers to do their homework and small children can be presented the world of books and computers.
We are organizing English classes for all levels from pre-school children to college students, paint classes and others for whom we need volunteers.
We are looking for help with our newly formed “patronato”, which is much like a PTA in the United States.
For further information about how to volunteer or how to sponsor a student or otherwise make a donation, you may visit our web site at www.lapazninos.org or call at 121 2166. You may also send at email to fanlap@hotmail.com or to me, Judy Peterson, at jupete49@hotmail.com.
Together we are making a difference.