Opening a new cafeteria is a cause for celebration. The Park Foundation and Giving Hope Worldwide enabled Paper Houses Across the Border to build another cafeteria in the colonias of Acu単a. When the cafeteria is opened, the children, teachers and parents organize a celebration. First, let me explain the process of building a cafeteria for the children of the working poor.
A site for a new cafeteria is selected.
Our first step is to identify a school and meet with the school directors. Schools do not have separate lunch periods for each class. The children are given a 20-minute break and those few that have a lunch will eat. The others will play. When we build a cafeteria that seats 150 children, the school must change its schedule so the children in each class have time to eat. The school identifies where the cafeteria will be build and then we search for a maestro – think of a master builder.
We then review bids from local contractors. We do not use large construction companies or relatives of teachers, principals or school officials. We seek bids from local maestros that will employ local people. (A maestro is a construction expert). He has many completed projects that we can inspect and he has a good reputation. When we make our choice, this expert builder hires one other person with almost as much experience in building and then her hires local workers. Sometimes we will send someone that needs work to the maestro.
Paper Houses Across the Border visits the building site at least every two weeks. We release money to the maestro in $5,000 increments and inspect receipts for materials and labor. Although we trust these local builders, we have an obligation to our donors to be vigilant stewards of their money.
Photo of our cafeteria at the Maria Braulia School as it nears completion. As the work nears completion we bring in tables, refrigerators, commercial stoves, tables, chairs, pots, pans and everything needed to make a cafeteria. Often, the local community raises funds and they build sidewalks, fences and other things needed to complete the job.
Everyone works hard to keep costs at a minimum. The cost is about $50,000. This includes everything needed to open the doors and serve the meals! (Wiring, plumbing, utility connections, ceiling fans, cabinets, sinks, equipment, etc.).
6th graders perform traditional Mexican dances. The celebration is wonderful! Children from every classroom perform (from Pre-K to 6th grade). There is music, dancing and letters of thanks are read at the ceremony. Teachers, parents, children and the Park Family come to the celebration. After the ribbon cutting, the children enter for their meal! People in the community and the teachers feel a strong need to thank us for the cafeteria. As each is opened, they honor us with performances from the children. Charity requires us to accept their thanks and we deeply appreciate the time, the practice and all of the effort made to express their thanks. We feel a part of and not apart from the local community. Many children run up to us and express their thanks. Those that can speak English are especially eager to tell us how much the cafeteria and meals mean to them. Some children are dressed in costumes as cartons of milk, vegetables and meat as they perform for us. Their performances are about the need for nutrition that Americans satisfy. Their performances also include promises to work extra hard at school, now that they have proper nutrition.
Parents often skip meals at home so that there is enough for the children. Many mothers have told us that they no longer struggle to get their kids out of bed to go to school. “I used to fight my two boys to get them ready for school. They wanted to stay under the warm blankets. They were not anxious to get ready for school. Today, it is different. They can hardly wait to get out of the door! They know that a hot meal is waiting at school! Thank you so much for caring about my children.�
Feeding these children is not only about today’s hungry children. Feeding these children is more about tomorrow’s children. Teachers constantly share stories about changed attitudes and behavior. Often, we are told that the children are now enthusiastic and happy. Many teachers put it this way. “Before the cafeteria and meal I saw children that were too hungry to concentrate. Sometimes a first grader would faint in class. Now, everything is different. The children want to learn!” Everything seems to be coming together. As we enter our 10th year of feeding children at schools, the local, state and federal governments are providing more scholarships and more college opportunities for the children of the poor. A new national program is providing English teachers for every school child in Mexico. This is a huge undertaking and is already in Acuña.
Ms. Carol Poggi is a selfless volunteer back home in the USA. She is well known throughout her community for her volunteer work. This cafeteria was dedicated to her.
Kelly, Michelle and Carol cut the ribbon to open the new cafeteria that their organization funded.
Teachers, parents and others host fundraisers to pay for the material needed to sew the costumes. I can only imagine the hours of practice involved to teach every student their part in the dances and performances that they offer in thanks for our help.
The Mexican government pays part of the cost. Mexico trains and certifies volunteer cooks. The volunteer cooks and parents and friends that come to the cafeteria in the wee hours of the morning to begin preparing the meals. They cook, hand wash the dishes, pots and pans and they clean the cafeteria. Our part? Only 12 cents a meal. What can you buy for 12 cents in the United States? In the colonias of Mexico you can feed a child a wonderful meal.
Every child wants Michelle to hold them.
We thank the Park Foundation, Giving Hope World Wide and especially thank Kelly and Michelle.