Many of its people live in poverty. San Juan Cosala was a fishing village on the north shore of Lake Chapala even before the arrival of the Spaniards in the early 1500's. Financial and volunteer support from members of St. Andrew's and from many others in the expatriate Canadian, American, and European communities in the nearby lakeside villages has enabled the work to grow rapidly. All too typical among the recipients are elderly singles or very large families headed by mothers whose husbands have disappeared. This is achieved by the efforts of our volunteers.
Volunteers make needed shopping trips into Guadalajara to buy at wholesale markets.
Finally, volunteers make the Tuesday morning deliveries to our families. The relationship between volunteers and the families served is a joy to experience. Tuesday morning has become a high point of the week for both as friends greet friends. But each is known by name. Cash donations are now regularly supplemented with gifts of clothing, shoes, bedding, and other household items.