Family of the Month February 2019

Meet Maritza and Her Family   

Little Natalie who has just turned one year old delights the family with her happy nature and easy-going personality. Her mother Maritza, in her mid-twenties, is a single mom with no current income, but she does most of the cooking and laundry for her large extended family. Maritza lives with her mom and seven nieces and nephews whose ages range from six to thirteen. It’s a busy, bustling household and both living space and food are in short supply. All of them look forward to the Buenos Vecinos monthly visit that brings them not only nutritious food, but also some friendly encouragement from their familiar BVB volunteers.

Family of the Month- November 2018

Meet the Case Family

Catalina and Amado live in a house of wood and tin on a dirt road amid the sugar cane fields.  In their early 40’s , they struggle to raise their four school-age children, two boys Jovany 14, Jonny 11 and two girls, Diana 9 and Janeth 5. Recently, this struggle has become even more perilous; in the past few months, Amado has been afflicted with a debilitating stomach disorder which has made it difficult for him to eat and therefore has also made him very weak.  He has needed help to even walk, and so he is currently unable to work to support his family.  Neighbors alerted a Buenos Vecinos member to this serious situation and Buenos Vecinos responded with an immediate provision of non-perishable food. Janeth grabbed the can of KLIM powdered milk and broke into a smile at this unexpected gift.  In addition, Boquete Health and Hospice is providing some medical equipment to assist Amado in his home.

Family of the Month October, 2018

Family of the Month September 2018

Meet Benilda´s Family

A large tree hides this bamboo house from the road and the outside play area is worn down to the dirt by many feet. The family who lives here, Benilda and her eight children still miss the father who abandoned them more than a year ago. Benilda struggles to find work, but earns only $50 a month cleaning houses and ironing clothes; $32 of those dollars are already designated for monthly rent and water.

Her oldest child, 18 year-old Alexander, is now in trade school learning how to be an electrician. He wants to help his family, and he is optimistic that he’ll be successful. His sixteen year-old sister, Yamileth, will finish high school next year. She wants to learn accounting so that she can help support the family, as well. Her fourteen year-old sister, Yaneth, has confessed with a smile, her own vision of someday owning a beautiful dress. The other children, Reinaldo, 12, Juan, 10, Jeronimo, 9 and Maria, 7, also attend school.

Six year-old Jhahicha is very excited to start school next year when she will proudly wear a uniform like her brothers and sisters. Until then she spends her days at home with her mother. When Mom works, a sibling stays home with Jhahicha.

Family of the Month August 2018

Families care for one another and, in this case, a strong woman has stepped forward to care for two generations of family members. Elidia takes care of her daughter and her two grandchildren, Osiris, a 13 year-old girl, and Noel, an 8 year-old boy. All three suffer from developmental delays. Elidia also raised her husband’s youngest children from his previous marriage after his wife passed away, and now Elidia helps care for two of their children. Elidia’s husband is a trusted worker on the finca where the owner provides this family of nine a two room house with running water. The finca is an ideal setting for these four youngsters to explore and to play together. Osriris and Noel receive their formal education with the assistance of a teacher for the handicapped but, because their developmental delays are so severe, there is little advancement. Elidia also makes sure they have social activities and educational stimulation every Saturday at Fundacion Pro Integracion (FPI) also known as the Handicap Center. Buenos Vecinos works closely with FPI to make sure Elidia and her family get their monthly allotment of non-perishable food, and she expresses her gratitude for the help BVB provides.

Family of the Month June

When the families of Fundacion Pro Integracion gather on Saturdays to provide social interaction and support for their handicapped member and for one another, Benita makes sure that her oldest child is there to join in. Ana Elizabet was born 19 years ago with cerebral palsey. Although she is wheelchair-bound and cannot speak, Ana understands what people tell her and responds with a smile and wonderfully expressive eyes. She is a portrait in joy.

Ana and her four younger brothers and parents live in a one room house for which they pay rent and electricity. The other biggest expense, besides the anti-seizure medicine Ana must have twice each day, is food to feed the family. Benita explains that the food Buenos Vecinos de Boquete (BVB) provides each month helps them meet those needs and they truly appreciate it.

Family of the Month March

Family of the Month

Meet Abraham and His Family

In the Volcancito area, Abraham and his wife Felicidata raise a large family with kids ranging from eighteen to three years old. Abraham works as a maintenance man at a nearby business, and Felicidata handles the domestic work of this big family. The older children attend school, and get good grades they proudly tell me!

Felicidata admits that with eight children, not all of them favor the nutritious Manna pack provided by Buenos Vecinos de Boquete, but that most of them enjoy it, and she believes the product contributes to the overall good health of her family. The other food items contributed by Buenos Vecinos are eagerly anticipated each month.

Family of the Month August 2017

Meet Eva and Her Famiy

Family of the Month July 2017

Meet Elibia

Buenos Vecinos de Boquete provides non-perishable food on a monthly basis to over 100 families and individuals. Included in that count are 58 clients who additionally receive the services of the Handicapped Foundation (Fundacion Pro Integracion). Pictured here (in blue) is Elibia during a home visit by FPI volunteer Loesje.

Elibia was born with autism, cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder. She is now 16, and lives with her mother, several siblings and an extended family. Her father is deceased.

The food provided by Buenos Vecinos de Boquete (BVB) takes some of the financial pressure off Elibia’s family, who are obviously burdened with the care of this young woman. This food is also nutritionally valuable to the family, particularly with many children to feed. Fundacion Pro Integracion (FPI) steps in with physical therapy, necessary medical transportation, and assistance with medicine. Together our two organizations address critical needs of some of the community’s most needy members. We hope you will decide to support our efforts.