The Need ...

The origins of homeless children are rooted in the general issues of poverty and income distribution in Mexico. Contributing causes are:

• Divorce of separation of the parents

• Family and domestic violence

• Personal illness of parent (s) or caretakers

• Alcohol and/or drug and solvent abuse by parents or the child

• Neglect and abuse of the child

• One or both parents in prison

• Child unable to work and contribute to the family income

• Parental lack of literacy skills and schooling

• Poor social skills and life skills of the parents

• Mental health, mental handicap, and/or physical health problems in either the parents or the child

• Poverty or unemployment

• Parents unable to pay rent

• Emigration, economic migration of the parents to the U.S.

• Single parents unable to combine work and childcare

We receive no assistance from the government. All of our funds come from fundraisers and donations. We receive monthly assistance from a group in Montana called Lifeline of Hope. Each year we receive a sizeable contribution for Eagle’s Wings. We also have a few dedicated individuals who make donations throughout the year. We do put on two fundraisers each year. One is a cocktail party in January and the other is called Rhythm & Ribs which is held in the central plaza in Bucerias in February. There is a generous group of people who stay in the trailer parks in the north of Bucerias who put on an annual hamburger feast to benefit the orphanage.

To supplement the fundraisers and donations, we solicit usable but no longer needed items and hold bazaars, usually once a month.

Here is one true story in particular, reasons why there is a need for an orphanage...

The children who are housed in this Casa Hogar are not necessarily orphans. They are children whose parents are either unwilling or unable to care for them. About two years ago, three children were brought to the house by DIF (the Mexican counterpart of Family Services). The neighbors had reported the mother for child abuse. The children were 3, 5 and 7 years old. The mother would tie the oldest two to their chairs while she went to work. The baby brought them food and drink during the day. We had these three for six weeks, until an uncle took them into his home. He immediately returned them to the mother who did not really want them. It took nearly a year for them to be brought back to us.

We often have children brought to us who are too much trouble for the family because they have mental or physical problems. Often, the family does not have the resources, time or money, to care for these children. In times past, the family would take these children but in Mexico, as in the United States and Canada, families have scattered across the country. The older family may still live in Mexico City and the younger ones have moved to this area to work. So, the family is not here to help even if they are able.

 Our hope is to provide these children with food, clothing and shelter, ensure that they attend school and give them a safe haven for as long as necessary. All of our children attend school. Three of them attend special needs schools because of mental/physical handicaps.