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Urgent News

Omar is no stranger to glasses; several years ago his visual problems began and he was given a pair to help with his myopia and astigmatism. These spectacles fell victim to childhood antics, leaving the boy's eyes unaided for more than a year. Recently, thanks to the generosity of a donor, 12 year old Omar was given the opportunity to see an ophthalmologist, who prescribed him with a new pair of glasses. He also received some scary news: Omar needs laser eye surgery for the lesions he has in his pupils, a cost of $180 US. While it is not entirely certain why he has developed this condition, the doctors believe that straining his eyes has only made it worse. Left untreated, these lesions will slowly grow and blur his vision, potentially leaving him blind.

Omar's mother, Maria, hand-washes clothing for a living, earning $9 US a week. His father moved to the capital over a year ago in pursuit of a higher paying job as a day laborer and has not returned since. He sends the family money periodically (sometimes $13 US a week, other times $26 US a month....), but these contributions are not reliable. Omar and his brother only have their mother's meager wages to count on for their everyday needs, and the family struggles to cover the cost of food, rent, clothing, gas, etc., leaving little leftover for pricey medical care. They no longer have electricity in their home as a result of their tight financial situation. It would take them years to save up the necessary money for Omar to get this extremely important surgery.

If you would like to help Omar get help, please go to Donate Now and scroll down. In the Other $ section, insert the amount of your donation. In the Details box, write #2359 Omar laser surgery. Any amount will assist in saving Omar's eyesight! Thank you.



Just as we were getting ready to finish for the afternoon today...I got the message about a young woman, 20 years old, who had drank poison in Tierra Linda.  
She did this on Thursday ...trying to escape a situation where she had become involved with a married man...when she wanted to break off with her...he threatened to tell about their affair on the internet...( the double edged sword of the internet!!) ...so seeing no way out and fearing this terrible humiliation she did what others have done to take their lives....she drank poison that is used on the crops.   
From what I have been told, they took her to the local hospital but they refused to take her in...( I am not sure about the details of this or why they refused...maybe they didn't feel they had the way to treat her)...and the parents then took her to a private clinic...she spent two nights there and the bill for them came to $300 .....and they just could not afford to keep her there any longer.  ....so they have taken her home.

One of the members of the school committee called late this afternoon to tell us that this young woman is suffering terribly, that her mouth is going purple, she is in a lot of pain ....and she can barely swallow any liquids. 
We will be sending the doctor to see her tomorrow...and we will be finding out from the private clinic what kind of treatment that they gave her and what they recommend that we can do with her now.

Such a terrible shame that this young girl felt the need to take such drastic action......unfortunately, she is only one of many young women who have felt there was no other way for them...and drank poison. I can't even imagine how terrible this must be. 
Sharon
www.mayanfamilies.org






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Operating Mayan Families and its various projects are dependent upon individual donations. Individual and group donations of any size are greatly appreciated. As little as $10 or $20 does make a difference! All the families we help are impoverished so any donation will make a real life difference in reducing a struggling family's daily hardship.

Mayan Families is a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible.

Support Our Work

Donation List:

You may also Donate a One Time Gift. 

Food Donations:

$40 Holiday Tamale Food Basket - Large Basket of Food

 

$25 Snack Basket of Food

$15 Packet of Food

$280 Food to feed a family for one month

$50 100 lb bag of Corn (This makes tortillas for a family of five, 3 meals a day, for approximately two weeks)

$107 100 lb of Black Beans 

$6.50 Carton of 30 Eggs 


Birthday and Holiday Gift Donations:

$25 Large Birthday Cake (for the entire family)

$45 Large Birthday Cake (for entire family) AND a Birthday Gift (hula hoop, soccer ball, doll, or stuffed animal)

$20    Birthday or Christmas Gift  (Soccer ball, doll, toy car or 
                            stuffed animal)

                                              


Furniture Donations:

$58 Double Mattress

$170 Bed and Mattress 

 

$7.50      Pillow - Hypo Allergenic

 

$25 Blanket

$186 Onil Fuel-Efficient Stove (Training included)

$98 Ecocina portable Stove


$28 Small table


$47 Medium table


$60 Large table


$17 Simple chair


$56 Small Table with 2 Chairs

$103 Medium Table with 4 Chairs 

$140 Large Wooden Table with 6 Chairs 

$130 Pila, a two sided cement wash basin/sink for Washing

$170 Family Wardrobe-Medium

$190 Family Wardrobe-Large 

$98 Hope Chest

$200 Kitchen cabinet, large

$130 Kitchen cabinet, small

Furniture from our Carpentry Trade School 

$88 Table 4 ft x 4 ft Pine
$108 Table 3 ft x 7 ft Pine
$74 Book case, no doors, 4 ft x 4 ft
$149 Book case with doors, 4 ft x 4 ft
$104 Kitchen cabinet


Clothing Donations:

$159 Traditional Clothing Adults

$116 Traditional Clothing Girls up to 11 years old 

$27 Traditional Belt Adult

$13 Traditional Belt Girls up to 11 years old

$28 Traditional Apron

$20 Kids Soccer Jersey, long lasting.

$42 Leather Shoes Adult

$35 Leather Shoes Child

$9.50 Plastic Shoes 

Tools and Rain Gear:

$10 Umbrella

$22         Big Family Style Golf Umbrella

$15/19     Rainboots Child / Adult

$15/20 Rain cape Child / Adult

$7 Machete

$8.50 Shovel

$19.50 Garden Hoe

$13.50 Garden Rake

 

Health and Wellness Donations:

$96  Water Filter Complete, good for approximately 1 Million Gallons or approximately 10 years.

$48 Water Filter Replacement Cartridges, good for 1 to 2 years. (These are for the old filter, we no longer utilize these).


$42 Family Health Pack (Family of 5) Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Kotex, Soap, Clothes detergent, Dishwashing detergent. 

$25 Reusable Sanitary Pads, handsewn by Guatemalan seamstresses (includes 12 cotton outer liners, 15 innerliners, 4 pairs of underwear)


$12 Disposable Diapers (For elderly, special needs, or sick children)

$53 Baby Formula for babies 12 months and under for 1 month

$35 Milk for infants 12 months and older for 1 month

$14 Incaparina for children over 24 months (vitamin enriched protein drink)

 

Income Generating Activities:

$56 Egg Laying Hens (These provide a family with  a supplemental income and food)

$75          Carpentry School class for Beginner and Intermediate

$75 Sewing Classes for an eligible woman (6 months of classes twice a week)

$75 Computer classes for eligible students (6 months of classes           for students from 6-9 grade, 2 times per week)

$20 English classes (twice weekly for one month with an ESL certified teacher, Panajachel ONLY.)

Email Rachel@mayanfamilies.org for info.

To let someone know that you have made a donation to Mayan Families and make charitable giving during the holidays a little easier, we have a set of Greeting Cards available to download and print.


If you wish to donate by check, please make it payable to Mayan Families and mail it to:
MAYAN FAMILIES
P.O. Box 52
Claremont, N.C. 28610

If you wish to donate online, a safe and secure way to donate, please follow the steps below.


Currency
 
General    $    (Where most needed!)
 
Education    $   (includes general education & sewing classes.)
 
Community Aid    $   (includes general family aid, milk & food, chickens, holiday baskets, stoves, water filters.)
 
Healthy Families    $    
 
Animal Welfare    $    
 
Micro Loans    $    
 
Construction    $    
 
Administration    $    
 
Student Sponsorship    $  
Student ID #
A student's ID is given when you become a sponsor. To become a sponsor, please go to Sponsor a Student.
Student Sponsorship    $  
Student ID #
Student Sponsorship    $  
Student ID #
 
Family Aid    $  
Family Name
Family Aid    $  
Family Name
 
Find costs for family table, bed, stove, etc. at Family Aid.
Other    $  
Details
 
Extra Notes      


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