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​A Self-Empowering Project

Acción En La Cruz is the continuation of a project started four years ago when the PEACE organization of Punta de Mita saw the need to aid financially burdened local residents by providing provisions to their families in exchange for community services performed.  The program has been exceedingly successful in communities throughout the Bahia de Banderas in Nayarit, Mexico.

The program was originally called Work for Food until a legal technicality dictated the change to Action for Food.  The program in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle was initiated as a co-partnered undertaking between PEACE and Amigos de La Cruz.  By the beginning of 2013, funding from both PEACE and ADLC disappeared, and the independent program Acción En La Cruz was started to facilitate the continuation of the worthy project. 

What they do

Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday three different volunteers work 2 hours in La Cruz cleaning streets, sidewalks, lots and school grounds as well as painting, landscaping and other functions identified by the local delegado.

What they receive

For two hours of community service, volunteers receive a "despensa" containing rice, dried beans, boxed milk, soup noodles, canned tuna, corn meal, tomato sauce, cooking oil and toilet paper purchased at La Cruz Stores.

How do I donate?

URGENT !

DONATIONS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY, FEB. 1, 2014

As most of you know, for most of the past year, Acción En La Cruz has been operating entirely from private contributions. There is no financial support from any of the Amigos (Bucerias, La Cruz or Entre) or from PEACE. We have no annual Charity Ball attended by society big-wigs and corporate sponsors.

 

This past May, we coordinated with Fundación Punta de Mita to become the administrator of the program to administer, collect and distribute all program funds. After a two month interruption, we were able to get Acción En La Cruz back up and running- providing dispensas (food & provisions) to 18 local volunteers in exchange for their community work. This is the only program in La Cruz that offers a self-empowering means for residents to provide for their families.

 

As was necessary this past July, we have had to suspend the program once again until sufficient monies have been raised to cover at least one month’s operation (roughly $600 USD / $7,500 pesos)and $2,500 pesos in arrears. If we are unable to raise the funds, there is the very real probability that the program will come to a permanent halt. The irony here is that the cost to run the program for a full year is less than $7,500 dollars which is really not a huge sum.

 

We ask you to please donate to help this important project continue. You can receive a tax-deductible receipt for your contribution; just follow the instructions. 

 

Here’s hoping we can get Acción En La Cruz back on its feet rapidly.

 

 

Funding for Acción En La Cruz is 100% independent, coming entirely from generous community minded individuals who understand the importance of providing a self-empowering means for residents to provide for their families.  All monies are administered, collected and distributed by FUNDACIÓN PUNTA DE MITA, A.C. and the volunteers are organized by La Cruz resident & Coordinator, Sra. Elena Munguia.

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Please click on the DONATE button at the top right of this page.

Elena Munguia, originally from Tecalitlan, Jalisco, moved to Puerto Vallarta in 2002.  Six years ago she moved to La Cruz where she raises her 2 daughters, Melanie aged 10 and Annie aged 6.  Elena works with Maria Joaquina Sierra at Maria’s Concierge/Philo’s Real Estate and is currently enrolled in an accelerated English class to improve her command of the language in order to better service the Canadians and Americans who use the visa, license, permit, and real estate services at Maria’s.
 

Two years ago, when the Work For Food program was initiated in La Cruz, Elena was recruited for the position of Coordinator by La Cruz residents Dunia Gutierrez and Alicia Haas, and interviewed at PEACE Punta de Mita headquarters with Molly Fisher (founder and former director of PEACE) and Socorro Vazquez Montoya, former head of Work for Food at PEACE.  As Coordinator, Elena continually prospects and interviews local applicants for the volunteer positions based on a set of criteria established by PEACE.  She manages the volunteers in their weekly job assignments and handles the purchase, short-term storage and distribution of the despensas (food & provisions) to the volunteers.
 

“I have enjoyed working with the people of La Cruz to help the town stay clean, to increase tourism and popularity of the destination while also helping local families who sometimes struggle to make ends meet,” says Elena.  We think she’s doing a fantastic job.

Meet The Coordinator

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