Make a DIFference this Christmas—sponsor a home!
By Atención staff
During the year, the Family Services department (DIF) has built 110 homes for local families who live in dire poverty. Although the city has allocated funds for 125 homes for the year 2008, DIF director Gaby Finkelstein seeks to reach a target of 185 homes. Support from the community is the key to the organization providing more. At this time of family celebration, what better gift than to sponsor a simple but dignified home for a poor local family.
Mi Casa DIFerente (My DIFferent House) provides housing for families in urban and rural communities who live in extreme poverty. The program, which for 9,000 pesos provides a family a new home, requires that recipients contribute labor operating under the philosophy that participation is part of the solution.
To generate more funds for the program, the Family Services Department held its annual fundraiser in October. Special guests at the Mexican dinner included State Governor Manuel Oliva Ramirez and his wife Marta Martínez de Oliva, Mayor Jesus Correa and wife Patricia and City Secretary Christopher Finkelstein. The event succeeded in generating funds for 50 low cost homes.
To contribute to this program contact DIF director Gaby Finkelstein or Community Liason Kathy Leutzinger at 150-0061. Donations to DIF are tax-deductible.
Christmas events in San Miguel
The Christmas season is here and with it all the joy and happiness of the posadas, the Christmas songs and the Christmas tree to celebrate the birth of the Baby Jesus. The local government, through the Education and Culture Department, invites the public to join the Christmas festivities, including the eight traditional posadas which will be celebrated in the main streets and neighborhoods of the city. The Biblioteca Pública invites you to its traditional posada on Tuesday, December 18.
Sunday, December 16
6:30pm: Big Christmas tree, Jardín
7:30pm: Chorus, Ensemble San Miguel 100 voices
8pm: First Posada, Leaving from the Parroquia, Correo, Murillo, Núñez, Calzada de la Presa, Acamapixtli, Homobono, Puente de Umarán, Colegio, Mesones, Salud Church
Monday, December 17
8pm: Second Posada, Salud Church, on Plaza Cívica, Mesones, Hernández Macías, Hernández Macías, Calzada de la Luz, Loreto, Insurgentes, Santa Ana Church
Tuesday, December 18
5pm: Posada, Biblioteca Pública, Insurgentes 25
6:30pm Movies for children, court in Colonia San Rafael
8pm: Third Posada, Leaving from Santa Ana Church in Insurgentes, Hidalgo, Canal, Zacateros, Ancha de San Antonio, Orizaba, 28 de Abril in Colonia San Antonio, Tinajitas, San Antonio Abad Church
Wednesday, December 19
5pm: Puppets, The Well, by Mónica Hoth, court in Colonia Independencia
8pm: Fourth Posada, Leaving from San Antonio Abad, Callejón de San Antonio, Ancha de San Antonio, Codo, Tenerías, Terraplén, Sollano, Correo, Corregidora, ending in San Francisco Church
Thursday, December 20
6pm: Chorus, Music School Anyel, Jardín
8pm: Fifth Posada, leaving from San Francisco Church, Corregidora, Recreo, Hospicio, Cuadrante, Hernández Macías, Canal, Beneficencia, San Rafael Street, ending in San Juan de Dios Church
Friday, December 21
6pm: Christmas concert, Corniza 20, Jardín Principal
8pm: Christmas concert, Baritone Carlos Sánchez, with chorus from Querétaro, Jardín Principal
8pm: Sixth Posada, leaving from San Juan de Dios Church, San Antonio Abad, Canal, Guanajauto bridge, Avenida Guadalupe, Insurgentes, ending in Oratorio Church
Saturday, December 22
6pm: Performance, Alegría, Fiesta y Tradición (Joy, Fest and Tradition), Ballet Caxitlán from Colima
8pm: Seventh Posada, leaving from the Oratorio, Pepe Llanos, Juárez, San Francisco, Relox, Calzada de la Luz, Calzada de la Aurora, ending in la Herradura in Colonia Aurora
Sunday, December 23
6pm: Villancicos (Christmas songs), guitars of Professor Gonzalo of Casa de la Cultura
8pm: Eighth Posada: Calzada La Aurora, Heróico Colegio Militar, Francisco González Bocanegra, Volanteros, Quebrada, Umarán, Zapateros, ending in Las Monjas
Thursday, December 28
6pm: Performance, Querétaro Ballet, Jardín
Monday, December 31
6pm: Music, Sonora Dinamita, Jardín
Midnight: Fireworks to celebrate the New Year 2008, Jardín
Saturday, January 5
7pm: Three Kings Parade, Main downtown streets
Sunday, January 6
4pm: Three Kings Celebration; children activities with presents, Jardín
Christmas—trees or nativity scenes, Los Reyes or Santa?
By Gabriela Blanco
Christmas celebrations around the world are ever challenged by encroaching commercialism and decorative items “made in China.” The traditional decorations in Mexico include elaborate nativity scenes featuring handmade figures from local artisans, star shaped piñatas, advent candles and nochebuena (poinsettia). Children traditionally receive their gifts from Los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings). However, over time cheap imported products and traditions from the north have profoundly impacted Mexico.
Atención San Miguel took to the streets to ask the locals about their Christmas traditions. How do you decorate your home or business—with a Christmas tree or a Nativity scene? And, who do your children ask for presents? Santa or The Three Kings?
Teresa, artisan (55)
I follow the Mexican tradition decorating with a Nativity scene, and presents from Los Reyes.
Natalia, wholesaler (33)
We have both. My children love to put up the Christmas tree as it is very flashy and the Nativity scene represents the birth of the Baby Jesus.
The children receive presents from both; Santa because of so much publicity and the Three Kings because they gave presents to the Baby Jesus.
Fernando, federal employee (26)
For me the Nativity scene holds the real meaning of Christmas.
The Three Kings is Mexican, Santa is from US.
Adriana employee (23)
I combine both: The Nativity scene is a tradition and the Christmas tree is pretty.
Both: Because I used to
Joaquín, jeweler (48)
Neither Christmas tree nor Nativity scene it’s just pure publicity now and has no real meaning anymore.
And the same for presents.
Alex, civil engineer (35)
It’s easier to put up and take down a Christmas tree.
My children ask presents from Santa: it’s funny and generous.
Nora Anastasia, wholesaler (42)
I put up a Nativity scene; the Christmas Tree is an American tradition.
And my children ask from the Three Kings for the tradition.
Martín, manager, (25)
The Christmas tree is easier to put up and take down.
The Three Kings, Santa is gringo.
Mary, cook (25)
The Nativity scene is the tradition in San Miguel, as is the Three Kings. They gave gifts to the Christ child; Santa is a fantasy he doesn’t exist.
Helen, writer (38)
Both: I grew up with the Nativity scene and the Christmas tree, as well as the Three Kings and Santa, and the blend of two is really nice.
Valery, retired (50)
The Nativity scene is the representation of the Christmas, as is the Three Kings.
Esperanza, housewife (62)
I am catholic, so I celebrate with a Nativity scene and the Three Kings.
Prisciliana, retired (65)
The representation of the Christ child’s birth is the Nativity, and the Three Kings is the tradition.
Grace, artist (51)
I like to decorate the Christmas Tree and I grew up with this tradition, and the Three Kings.
Gregory, retired (60)
It’s easy to decorate a Christmas Tree and it’s more eye catching. But I grew up with the Wise Men.
Carmen, restorer (32)
I grew up with the two traditions.
Francisco, student (14)
I put up a Christmas tree it’s prettier, and like Santa—it’s funnier.
Laila, student (14)
I like the smell of Christmas trees and ask for gifts from Santa—It’s nicer and he comes earlier.
Paola, student (16)
We have a Christmas Tree—I’m not catholic and it’s nicer. And I prefer Santa—he comes earlier.
Adriana, teacher (42)
Definitely the Nativity. Once my mother was given an ugly silver Christmas tree, the only thing I liked about it was that we could decorate it as we wished. But I think the Nativity is better.
To continue Mexican Traditions we asked the Three Kings: my mom always said ask Balthazar, the black guy, because nobody asked him
Craig, artist (49)
My family is Mexican-American family, so both are traditional for us.
Xanat, waitress, (23)
I celebrate both—that’s the way I grew up and it’s really nice to join two traditions. And with Santa and Los Reyes I got much more presents.
“Terry’s Blitz” a resounding success
By Lisa Wandler-Eckrote
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CAPA Happy customer at the recently completed Amigos de Animales sterilization blitz. |
With over 120 animals operated on, more than 300 tamales served and dozens of hearts and minds won over, Amigos de Animales proudly closes the chapter on yet another successful sterilization blitz.
The weekend was even more rewarding for the Amigos volunteers than usual because a local couple sponsored the entire blitz in honor of their beloved son. Terry was a devoted animal lover whose legacy of love for cats and dogs will live on in San Luis Rey. A photo of Terry and one of his many pets was prominently displayed at the blitz throughout the weekend, a poignant reminder of one family’s love and the power of that love to do good.
From early in the morning, dogs and cats and their owners were lined up at the community center patiently waiting to be seen by one of the dedicated veterinarians led by Dr. Octavio Capitan. All of the vets and vet techs donated their time to be part of this special event, most of them working tirelessly the entire weekend.
But the vets and their assistants could not do it alone—in fact, none of the work Amigos does would be possible without our outstanding corps of volunteers. Led by Rosalie Gower, the Amigos volunteers assist the vets, educate the owners, entertain the children, and of course comfort the animals. It is a tremendous amount of work (planning for the next blitz has already begun) but our volunteers return time and again just for the opportunity to interact with people who may be very different from themselves in perhaps all but one respect—the deep and abiding love they have for animals.
Ultimately, Amigos sterilization blitzes are dependent upon the generosity of the San Miguel community. Every donation counts; please consider sponsoring a surgery at US$40 or an entire blitz for US$5,000. Amigos encourages you to join with friends and neighbors—for just a few hundred dollars each you can help us raise enough money to bring a blitz to your colonia. Consider sponsorship for the holidays, year round for a birthday, or like Terry’s blitz in honor of a friend or family member. Amigos de Animales has 501(c)3 status and all donations are 100 percent tax deductible in the US. If you would like more information on making a donation to help end pet overpopulation in San Miguel, please contact Lisa at 044 (415) 111-4723 or lisa@amigos-sma.org.
A different approach to Christmas giving
By Madre Maria de Jesus Ortiz Balderas, Directora, Casa Hogar Santa Julia Don Bosco, A.C.; Madre Guadalupe Segura Guel, Directora, Casa Hogar Don Bosco, A.C.; and Madre Delfina Aguilar Barcenas, Directora, Santuario Hogar Guadalupano, A.C., with Robin Loving Rowland
Holiday collaborations
La Conexión
Christmas Shopping Experience
Aldama 3
Laconex2001@yahoo.com
US$50
Mega promotion
Buy a gift
Salida a Celaya, near Pipila glorieta
Art Opening
William Panzer
Sat, Dec 15, 5–8pm
Bordello Gallery
Órganos 19
Anyel Children’s Choir
with the Santa Julia girls & Mexiquito boys
Wed, Dec 19, 6pm
Jardín
Free
Santa Visit
Drop stuffed stockings off at:
Centro Bilingüe
Orizaba near 20 de Enero
Illumina
Calzada de la Luz at Hernández Macías
Premier Real Estate
Zacateros 81A
San Miguel Fitness Center
Stirling Dickinson 28
Sazón
Correo 22
Spanglish Café
20 de Enero Norte at Marte
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“Casa hogar children receive more at Christmas time than mine do,” said a San Miguel native last year who lives in Colonia San Antonio. |
That may be true, because people feel very generous during the season, especially toward children who don’t have their families to provide for them. However, that support also helps us provide throughout the year.
Community donations sustain the casas hogares. It takes US$275 per month to feed, house, clothe, educate and care for each of nearly 100 special-needs children, who come from homes with dire family circumstances such as poverty, neglect, or abuse.
This is US$105,300 per house each year. We are only 15 women, so we have all the work we can handle simply taking care of the children. Thank you for whatever you may do to assist us. We are grateful for the community’s contributions, the influence the community can have with contributors, and the ongoing support that community donations may provide our children.
We have been criticized for begging in the streets. “It’s not dignified,” we hear. When we are begging in the streets, it is because we desperately need funds for something directly related to the casa hogar children, as each of us has taken a personal vow of poverty and therefore owns nothing whatsoever.
Our entire lives are dedicated to providing for these children so that they may one day become good citizens. That’s often like piecing together a patchwork quilt, and some days we don’t have enough pieces to cover all the children’s needs. Thank you for contributing to our ongoing quest for economic sustainability for these children.
Holiday collaborations
We encourage people to support La Conexión Christmas Shopping Experience in which US$50 and a volunteer are solicited for each child. This provides the children with their only annual opportunity to learn to shop for themselves, an essential life skill.
Through the generosity of Mega shoppers, some of our children will get to select a type of gift they would like to receive (ball, doll, etc.).
Painter William Panzer’s whimsical acrylic paintings of bright, colorful fun will open with a reception December 15, with proceeds benefiting the Santa Julia girls.
Finally, the kids got to experience the joy of a visit from Santa last year, and we’d like to have him visit again this year. Santa says he’ll try but he’d like the San Miguel elves to help him provide stockings stuffed with goodies other than candy. To get involved with the Casa Hogar Kids’ Santa visit, contact Robin Loving. If more than enough stockings are collected (we need 100), Santa will take them to the hospitals on Christmas morning! Deadline is December 21.
Ongoing collaborations
Several nonprofit groups here are acquainted with our ongoing need for assistance. Thank you for your collaboration with these outstanding organizations:
Anyel teaches Casa Hogar Kids music and has formed a choir which appears throughout the year to earn funds to support the music program. They can be reached at
elsmarienorby@yahoo.com.
Computadoras Pro Jovenes’ 30 volunteer computer experts serve our children and more than 3,000 other local students who need computer support to advance themselves in a technological world. Email them at
computersforschoolkids@gmail.com.
Feed the Hungry provides the equivalent of at least one meal a day for each casa hogar child. They also solicit donations to help us make property repairs, buy new fans and hot-water heaters, paint, build essential storage, provide bedding and pay utility bills from time to time. Their email is
tstehotmail@hotmail.com.
Patronato Pro Niños provides medical and dental care for our children. A very generous annual pledge by St. Nicholas Church of Flower Mound, Texas, will assist with covering such costs for the Santa Julia girls. PPN has arranged to pay the Celaya Food Bank each month to leverage a donation to cover food costs, and through PPN Kelloggs provides cereal for the children’s breakfasts. For information, contact
gandjcrane@yahoo.com.
Average monthly expenses
Monthly expenses for each house can be grouped in five categories. Utilities average US$2015 per month, supplies and maintenance are $795, transportation and school together are $1105, household assistance is $3310 and food, clothing, toiletries and medicine total $1550. Monthly expenses for each house are $8,775, or $105,300 for the year. The monthly expense for each child averages $275, or $3,300 for the year.
About 40 percent of each of our budgets is donated in-kind during the year, leaving us about 60 percent to raise through other community donations. We have established the following programs to allow people to help support the children in meaningful ways.
Support-a-Child – US$100 a month provides for a child’s basic expenses; US$275 covers all expenses for a month. Annual donors receive a framed certificate with the child’s photo, monthly updates about the child and our monthly newsletter.
Sustaining Supporter – We are seeking supporters for each line item in our budgets. Donors receive a framed certificate and our monthly newsletter.
Sister School Status – Schools engage their students to share language, culture and friendship through various kinds of support, and receive a framed certificate and our monthly newsletter.
Friends of Casa Hogar – Consider forming a chapter in your community to gather resources for us, and receive a framed certificate and our monthly newsletter.
Foundation for the Future – US$2.5 million would endow one casa hogar forever. Please consider bequests or foundation gifts to allow us to turn all of our attention to caring for these kids rather than having to continue to seek funding day after day.
San Miguel Community Foundation accepts US tax-deductible donations. Note the name of the casa hogar of your choice on the check’s memo line. Donations may be taken to Border Crossings, Box 121A, or mailed to 9902 Crystal Court, Suite 107, Laredo, Texas 78045.
People who want to donate directly (no tax deduction) may make their checks out to:
Casa Hogar Don Bosco, A. C. – This will go to the girls who live on Sollano. Their slogan is Where Girls Grow Strong in Body, Mind and Spirit.
Casa Hogar Santa Julia Don Bosco, A. C. – This will go to the girls who live in Colonia Santa Julia. Their slogan is Where Love Grows Miracles.
Santuario Hogar Guadalupano, A. C. – This will go to the boys who live in Colonia Mexiquito. Their slogan is Where Good Boys Become Good Men.
Conjuntos Podemos! – Together We Can! – Gracias!
For more information, contact Robin Loving Rowland at 152-3709 in SMA, 925-418-8003 in the US, or
robin@robinloving.com.
Three Kings’ Day
Casa Hogar Kids’ Celebration
Sat, Jan 5
Border Crossings
Mesones 65
152-2497
Sanmiguelenses may sponsor a child’s wish list through the Border Crossings’ Three Kings’ Day Casa Hogar Kids’ Celebration. The list usually consists of something like a doll, a skirt and a jacket. Then you watch the child receive those gifts at the celebration. See long-time organizer Nelly Lorenzo at Border Crossings or email her at
pack@bordercrossingsma.com.
Posada
Casa de Sierra Nevada
Benefits Casa Hogar Kids
Fri, Dec 21, 6–9pm
250 peso donation
Posada for the Casa Hogar Kids
By Linda Lowery
Casa de Sierra Nevada, an Orient-Express Hotel, will host its second annual children’s community Christmas posada on December 21, from 6–9pm, beginning at Sazón Cooking School at Correo 22. Posadas are events held each of the nine days prior to Christmas to remind the faithful of the nine days that Mary and Joseph traveled seeking “room at the inn” for the birth of Jesus.
Special to the December 21 posada will be its primary participants, 100 children from San Miguel’s three Dominican casas hogares, group homes for children from dire family circumstances including abuse, neglect, and extreme poverty. Locally, these homes are known by the locations: Sollano, Mexiquito and Santa Julia. The children are known as the Casa Hogar Kids.
“The Casa Hogar Kids will be dressed as Mary, Joseph, angels and shepherds and accompanied by traditional burros. The children of Casa de Sierra Nevada staff, and community members participate in this very moving event along Recreo to its end at Casa Parque on Calle Santa Elena,” said Marc Rodriguez, General Manager of Casa de Sierra Nevada.
Free refreshments will be served at Casa Parque, and there will be various children’s activities such as piñatas, pony rides and a live manger exhibit of tame burros, sheep, goats and cattle.
Commercial and residential neighbors along Calle Recreo will help CSN sponsor the posada. Virgins, Saints and Angels will provide tamales and tacos; Sharon des Jardins and Wesley Gleason of San Miguel Luxury Homes will provide the live animals and will supervise the pony rides. Other donors are providing items such as the piñatas and goodies to fill them and shepherd staffs and lanterns for the Casa Hogar kids.
Attendance will be limited to 300 participants at Casa Parque. Members of the public who wish to participate at Casa Parque will be asked to donate 250 pesos or US$25 to raise funds for the children’s homes, which rely almost solely on community support for every aspect of their expenses.
“When the nuns can’t raise sufficient funding, the children go without food or medicine or education or clothes or worse,” said Robin Loving, community liaison for the Casa Hogar Kids and the nuns who are raising them. “They are women of faith, however, and their slogan is Conjuntos Podemos—Together We Can,” she continued.
US tax-deductible donations may be made to the San Miguel Community Foundation, noting Casa Hogar Kids on the memo line. These may be dropped of at business sponsors between now and January 6:
Casa de Sierra Nevada Reception, Hospicio 35 and Casa Parque
San Miguel Luxury Homes, Recreo 11
Sazon Cooking School, Correo 22
In addition, donations may be dropped off at the nun’s box at Border Crossings, Relox at Mesones, Box 121A, or mailed to 9902 Crystal Court, Suite 107, Laredo, Texas 78045.
For more information about the needs of Casa Hogar Kids, contact Loving at 152-3709, SMA or (925) 418-8003, US or
robin@robinloving.com.
For information about Casa de Sierra Nevada restaurant offerings or reservations, contact: CSN reservations at 152-7040.
Lake Chapala guests say Olé to San Miguel weekend fundraiser
By Keith Wall
The day after Thanksgiving, a crowd of enthusiastic if apprehensive officers, members and friends of Jovenes Adelante gathered at the Central de Autobuses on lower Canal to meet the 3:30pm bus. Arriving were 26 enthusiastic if apprehensive residents of Lake Chapala and Ajijic, who’d signed up to participate in a ‘reverse trip’ fundraiser Jovenes Adelante had termed “San Miguel Olé.” Promised to arriving participants was merely a fabulous weekend of music, food, art, excursions, shopping and history as guests in private San Miguel homes. Proceeds contributed to five-year university scholarship awards to local Mexican students by Jovenes Adelante, whose number of recipients has risen in the last year to forty-two.
Saturday guests gathered in the Jardín to meet volunteer guides Jay Moskowitz and John Herron for a specially arranged historic Centro tour, which included quality time at the Bellas Artes—then on to a delicious, leisurely lunch at the Aurora’s “Food Factory” where Jay and John were also Jovenes guests.
Things got even better Saturday night at the Bella Italia. The food and drink were predictably excellent, but guests were blown away by the music of Gil and Cartas with Lobo and Doc Severinsen sitting in.
Sunday morning took the Chapala guests to the World-Heritage-Site nominated Atotonilco church, where the very knowledgeable Angelica Juarez Rios of Angelica Tours gave an enlightening presentation on the religious, historic and artistic significance of this ancient and unique site.
Evident by many expressions of guests during the weekend, and confirmed by later calls and emails, this weekend was a huge success. Jovenes Adelante members are elated that their first attempt at a “reverse trip” fundraiser was well attended, enjoyed, and raised significant funds for their scholarship program; net proceeds are estimated at US$3,200, nearly enough to support one student’s entire university education. A second San Miguel Olé is already in the planning stages.