Our latest project is the Mogán Food Project - since it started a year ago, we have balooned into a much larger activity than was expected.
Originally we intended to be a bridge for needy families to receive food until they were given more regular aide, however, that hasn't happened in most cases. The lack of coherent programmes to help long-term unemployed and underemployed families in this municipality (we won't go into what happens in other places) has created a regular flow of people and to date (Nov 15, 2009) we have 438 people on our list, of which 42 are babies under 3 years of age, 82 are children between 3 and 12 years old, 123 are youths aged between 12 and 25 years of age, 28 are over 65. 163 are aged 25 to 65. Of the total, 276 are Spanish citizens and the remaining 162 are of several foreign nationalities including British, Moroccan, Czech, Austrian, German, Canadian, Senegalese and Saharaui.
Where do we get the food from?: Contributions from private persons, companies and groups. We have signed an agreement with the European Food Bank to receive food from different sources including the European Union, five times a year, but because the amounts sent are so small and so seldom, we have had to set up other means of financing and several fund-raisers are very busy pulling in as much as possible in financial contributions, but above all, we appreciate donations of foods, especially non-perishable food such as rice, UHT milk, juices, gofio, baby food and nappies.
Originally we intended to be a bridge for needy families to receive food until they were given more regular aide, however, that hasn't happened in most cases. The lack of coherent programmes to help long-term unemployed and underemployed families in this municipality (we won't go into what happens in other places) has created a regular flow of people and to date (Nov 15, 2009) we have 438 people on our list, of which 42 are babies under 3 years of age, 82 are children between 3 and 12 years old, 123 are youths aged between 12 and 25 years of age, 28 are over 65. 163 are aged 25 to 65. Of the total, 276 are Spanish citizens and the remaining 162 are of several foreign nationalities including British, Moroccan, Czech, Austrian, German, Canadian, Senegalese and Saharaui.
Where do we get the food from?: Contributions from private persons, companies and groups. We have signed an agreement with the European Food Bank to receive food from different sources including the European Union, five times a year, but because the amounts sent are so small and so seldom, we have had to set up other means of financing and several fund-raisers are very busy pulling in as much as possible in financial contributions, but above all, we appreciate donations of foods, especially non-perishable food such as rice, UHT milk, juices, gofio, baby food and nappies.
We have to give hearty thanks to the Norwegian group "Los Amigos" who have been our greatest support during this past year, the Norwegian Sjømannskirken for their solidarity, to Comida para Hoy for their weekly purchase of basics such as potatoes, onions and eggs from funds raised last winter by Los Amigos amongst others, to Frutería La Bella and to Aladdin's Cave, both in Ancora shopping Centre, Friclima for installing an air conditioner enabling us to keep larger amounts of food refrigerated and Supermercados Quevedo Ramírez for contributing truckloads of food when we most needed it!
Remember that people need to eat daily and if possible several times, food that is as nutritious as possible, to avoid health problems. Amongst our families are pregnant women - the most recent baby born was underweight and requires medical supervision because due to her mother not eating adequately during gestation, the child was also malnourished. Fortunately, we have found support from the Maspalomas Lions Club, that has taken the family under their wing and we have seen a marked improvement in their condition.
Several Norwegians have "adopted" local families to help them through this crisis. If you would like to sponsor a food item (for example by purchasing large amounts of one (or more) foodstuff wherever you choose and donating it to us) or sponsor a family, helping them with food, by paying for their water or electric, etc., please contact us at avlaslomas@gmail.com
Each Tuesday at 6pm we distribute the food we have managed to collect from our distribution centre in Arguineguin. You are welcome to visit and see for yourselves.
Each Tuesday at 6pm we distribute the food we have managed to collect from our distribution centre in Arguineguin. You are welcome to visit and see for yourselves.
Some recent pictures are available at: http://picasaweb.google.com/avlaslomas/ProyectoDeAlimentosNoviembre2009#
If you would like to help out or contribute, we can be found at Miguel Marrero street number 69, right next to the Municipal Nursery in Arguineguin, near the marketplace.
More information available at http://mogansolidaritynetwork.blogspot.com/
If you would like to help out or contribute, we can be found at Miguel Marrero street number 69, right next to the Municipal Nursery in Arguineguin, near the marketplace.
More information available at http://mogansolidaritynetwork.blogspot.com/
Thanks for your attention.
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