Dear Friends,
Dan Finocchiaro, Mike Selvaggio, and I arrived in Nicaragua yesterday to find the weather a pleasant 12 degrees cooler than the weather we left in Delaware. (That was a first).
It’s wonderful to awaken this morning to roosters with the day ahead to visit with people we miss and to have a little time to plan the week’s work. Dan and Mike will be in and around the school, most of the time with paint brushes in hand. We’re looking forward to sharing their skills in our next update.
Each trip we’re reminded of all you do – both by what our eyes show us and by what our friends tell us. It’s not something apart from or in addition to what we do here; it’s what makes it at all possible. Thank you!
Continued gratitude,
Chuck
Our thanks to all who donated suitcases, computers, and many clothes. We loaded 300 pounds of help to bring with us.
Update on Our Mid-Year Appeal
(now until September 1st)
Many thanks to all who have contributed to our appeal! Our goal is to raise $20,000. To date, we have raised $8.060. We’re on our way!
Our deepest thanks to Delaware Homes who has pledged to match donations in August to our mid-year appeal up to $2000! We will post the progress we make together in our next update.
Delaware Homes offers Neighbors to Nicaragua a $2,000 matching grant!
A True Fighter
Meet our friend Heidi Mariana Balladeres Torrez. At age 28, Heidi is a devoted, single mother of three. Having completed 6th Grade, she had to leave school to help her father collect recycling materials in the streets.
Her father who loved boxing passed onto his daughter his passion for the sport. Heidi trains every day at 5:00 and has become known for her successful boxing skills throughout Granada. She has competed in 143 matches and has won over 60% of them.
When not competing, she collects recyclable materials, earning anywhere from 1-3 dollars a day. Each boxing victory earns her about $14.
Heidi is grateful for our mission where she and her children receive a hot meal each day. We, in turn, are grateful for her example to the youth in our barrio. Her dream is to become a boxing instructor, so young people learn the disciplines the sport has provided her which have kept her healthy.
N-2-N Sponsorship Corner
Last Month’s Student: Milton de Jesus Monjares Robleto…SPONSORED! THANK YOU!
Our school, Centro de Oportunidad, has 90 students whom attend class and receive a hot meal each day (Many others come for meals as well). We are privileged to have sponsors for 47 of them.
Each sponsor donates $70 a month. Our student sponsorships are one of the financial cornerstones of our mission. If you would like to become a sponsor for one or more of our students, please let us know.
Each month, we will feature one of our un-sponsored students for consideration in this spot. This month’s student:
Valeska del Socorro Martinez Urbina
Valeska is 12. She is attending a special public school program to catch up to her peers. She has suffered from spotty attendance in traditional school because her family of five need her to help sell tortillas to make enough money to survive. On May 11th of this year, she entered our program, and her teacher, Jenny, has been monitoring her closely while counseling her parents, all to improve Valeska’s abilities to better process and remember information. Valeska loves our school, and since her first day with us, she has not missed a day of class. We are working hard to give her every chance for success, and we’re happy to have her with us.
Mark Your Calendar!
We’ve reserved the Wilmington Elk’s Club for our first Oldies Night since the pandemic! The date is Saturday, October 21st. Plan to come out between 5 and 9, grab a bite to eat, get some exercise, and have some fun. Details to come soon! Let’s Twist Again!