December 3rd, 2009

Hello Everyone! As Christmas approaches, we would like to bring you up to date on what Mayan Families Canada is up to and our goals for the New Year.

GIFT OF HOPE

Purchase a “Gift Of Hope” as a present for a friend or loved one. This is giving in the true spirit of Christmas!

Marlily’s family is just one example of those who are in desperate need of many of the things we take for granted: a home that keeps them safe, nutritious and sustainable food, and a chance to celebrate Christmas without feeling hungry.

GIFTS FOR MARLILY (OR OTHERS LIKE HER) INCLUDE:

  • Bricks for a new house:$10/brick
  • Christmas tamale basket:$35
  • Ten egg-laying chickens:$45
  • Food for the family for 1 month:$120

It’s easy to do:

  • Visit the Sponsored Students page of our website and choose a student and their family that you would like to help
  • Choose which gift you would like to send from our Gift Of Hope page
  • E-mail/call us with your choices
  • We’ll send you a beautiful Christmas Gift Card to pass on

STUDENT SPONSORSHIP

Each summer we personally visit the 26 students who you have generously supported to go to school. To see pictures of these students along with information about them, please visit our Sponsored Students page.

MARCOS NEEDS HELP

We are also continuing to sponsor Marcos, an amazing young man who is working towards a university degree in Systems Engineering (an incredible feat for a Mayan student, as they rarely continue school past grade 3). Unfortunately, university is expensive and due to an illness in the family, Marcos is having problems making ends meet. Any donations towards this student’s education would be greatly appreciated. Click Here for further information about Marcos.

FUNDRAISING TO DATE

SCHOOL FUNDRAISING

School children, their families and their communities on the Prairies and Vancouver Island have been extremely generous in their fundraising efforts this year. On Vancouver Island, students at Springwood Middle School in Parksville, BC have just finished their annual fundraising drive. This school alone has raised over $5,200! Parksville Elementary School students in Parksville, BC, have also been working towards their fundraising. Students at Nanoose Bay Elementary School in Nanoose Bay, BC will be gearing up for their annual efforts in the New Year, as will several other schools in the area.

New to the Mayan Families Canada fold this year are school communities on the Prairies. We truly appreciate the efforts of students at Creighton Community School , in Creighton, Saskatchewan, Wagner Elementary and LP Miller Comprehensive High School in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, and Hapnot Collegiate , in Flin Flon, Manitoba. Through their efforts and the efforts of teachers like Ren Lukoni, Stacy Becker, Trent Tuttosi and Ms. Gogol, they have taken on sponsoring an entire family in Guatemala! What an inspiring thing to do.

If you or someone you know would like to have your school involved in fundraising efforts, please contact us. Many families are in desperate need this year.

GIRL GUIDES

A small but enthusiastic group of Girl Guides from the Nanaimo area recently worked on a service badge. They donated the money they earned doing chores and collected much-needed supplies for the families in Guatemala. Well done, girls! Thank you to guide leader, Sharon Weller for organizing this work.

MEMORIAL DONATIONS

We were saddened at the loss of our co-founder’s mother, Bernice Huxtable, in September of this year. However, we were extremely moved by the many donations that were sent to us in her name. We thank you on behalf of both Mayan Families Canada and Bernice’s family.

BLACK DOG CAFÉ FUNDRAISER

In October, we had a very successful Beer and Quesadilla night, along with a silent and live auction at the Black Dog Café in Lantzville, BC. Community donations, especially from the Longwood Brew Pub in Nanaimo, BC helped to make this a great evening. Those who attended the evening had fantastic food and were entertained with both the auction and the auctioneers! The night was such fun that attendees and organizers alike are looking forward to one again next year. Be on the lookout for tickets. A big thank you to Fran Kupiak, Chris Thomas and Donna Livelton for their fantastic efforts.

UPCOMING EVENTS

DINNER DRIVE

Imagine if everyone who received this email hosted a dinner party on behalf of Mayan Families Canada. If only $30 was collected at each of these dinners (six people contributing as little as $5 each), we would raise $6000! So we are going to attempt the first ever, across-Canada Mayan Families Canada Dinner Drive called, “Food For Thought”, in February 2010. We hope that each of you will invite friends over for an evening of great food, conversation, and a little bit of humanitarianism. A short video will be available on Youtube so you can show your guests exactly how they’re helping out. Watch for information about this event.

GIRLS WITH GRAPES GETAWAY

We will be pampering some lucky women at Mistaken Identity Winery on Saltspring Island sometime early in June. This awesome day-getaway will include a not-too-strenuous hike (with surprises along the way), mini-foot massages, a gourmet lunch along with samplings of Mistaken Identity’s incredible wines and, of course, great conversation. We’ll let you know details and ticket information in an upcoming newsletter.

COFFEE HOUSE

Last year, Alex Dawley, a VIU university student and supporter of Mayan Families Canada, organized an incredible Coffee House night. Musicians from the central Vancouver Island area performed in an informal, relaxed setting, while guests sipped away on delicious lattes and nibbled on delectable desserts! It was a great evening. Look forward to another one in the spring.

OTHER EVENTS

Do you have an idea for a fundraising event that could help disadvantaged children and families in Guatemala? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at: info@mayanfamiliescanada.org

SHOES/CLOTHES/HYGIENE ITEMS NEEDED

 Part of our Volunteer Holiday includes the giving out of shoes, clothes, hygiene items, etc…. to those in need. If you would like to collect/donate any of these items it would be greatly appreciated. Just give us a call or email and we’ll organize to pick them up. All items should be new or gently used.

VOLUNTEER HOLIDAY 2010

We are starting to organize our annual volunteer trip to Guatemala. Everyone who went with the 2009 Volunteer Holiday was enthusiastic with his or her response to this experience. It’s a trip that opens eyes and hearts to the struggles that people in developing countries are dealing with day in and day out. Don’t miss the chance to make such a huge difference in the lives of others. Sign up for our August 2010 trip now! There are only a few spots left. For information about this trip please visit Mayan Families Canada Volunteer Holidays.

Thank you again for your ongoing support of Mayan Families Canada.

For further information about any of our projects please visit our website at: www.mayanfamiliescanada.org

Or email us at:

info@mayanfamiliescanada.org