New, Current Donors Rally to Support Vital Local Charity
LAKESIDE, Jalisco, Mexico – Jan. 5, 2023 – Thanks to scores of new donors and continuing ones who upped their support, FoodBank Lakeside has attained its goal of raising 1 million pesos over 100 days by its end-of-2022 deadline.
Final figures tabulated this past week show that $1.07 million MXN were contributed toward the One Million Peso Challenge that began Sept. 23, after a careful forecast of revenue and reserves revealed concerns about running out of money by Dec. 31.
“This is a wondrous holiday gift from our community to local residents in dire need,” said Steve Taylor, One Million Peso Challenge co-chair. “Giving at this scale means FoodBank Lakeside now is prepared to continue its good work going into 2023. We cannot thank donors enough for their assistance and generosity.”
One of Lakeside’s most vital charities, FoodBank will continue to fund weekday lunches to 700-800 impoverished children via Kids Kitchens and deliver monthly despensas of basic grocery items (beans, rice, oats, milk, eggs, soap, toilet paper, etc.) to about 700 needy families, the elderly and disabled.
FoodBank Lakeside needs about $3 million MXN annually just to fully fund these programs. More 2023 fundraising activity will be scheduled throughout the year so that, hopefully, large fundraising projects such as the One Million Peso Challenge will not be needed later this year.
FoodBank Lakeside serves Ajijic, San Antonio Tlayacapan, Riberas, Chapala, Santa Cruz, San Nicolás and San Pedro. Further, it gives bags of dog and cat food to pet-owning families via Pet Food Bank Lakeside for pooches and felines who would otherwise go hungry.
FoodBank Lakeside’s leaders are all volunteers working at home, with no staff, office, or warehouse costs, so 95 percent of all donations go to feed families.
The charity relies on a dedicated cadre of Mexican volunteers, who are both eyes and ears in their respective Lakeside communities. Each client’s level of need is routinely reevaluated. This ensures those in need get despensas, and those no longer as needy are removed from recipient lists.
FoodBank Lakeside is recognized by the Foundation for Lake Chapala Charities, a 501(c)3 organization, allowing U.S. donors to make year-end, tax-deductible donations and receive tax receipts.
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