"Ray and Kathy McGovern from Denton,Tx are serving the Orphanage and local community for 5 months as volunteer operation managers over construction and community food and education programs to the need".Our Cause
Do
you want to help make a lasting difference in the life of a child?
After
living many years in Latin America and assisting many impoverished friends and neighbors,
we joined together with like-minded friends and co-founded Service Mentors, a 501(c)3
not for profit corporation, to provide values based humanitarian aid, training,
and mentoring for those in greatest need. Our service projects in Guatemala, one
of the poorest countries of Latin America, primarily target indigenous Mayan children and women to help them overcome the debilitating and paralyzing
effects of poverty.
Presently,
we are working with the Casa de Sion orphanage in Los Robles, Solola, Guatemala
to upgrade its facilities as required by the recently adopted Hague Convention
rules in order to reopen its doors to serve 30 children. These children come
from orphaned, neglected or abusive homes and need direct intervention to rescue
them from lives of desperation and give them much needed love, hope, and support.
The Casa de
Sion staff and volunteers not only provide these children with basic, life
sustaining food and shelter but also teach an integral, values based, moral education
and model important life skills to prepare the children for greater levels of trust,
responsibility and interdependence in respective roles of work, family,
and community.
Please
help us to meet our goal of raising $21,000 before Dec. 31st, 2013 to make the necessary
physical improvements to the Casa de Sion orphanage facility and positively impact
the lives of 30 at-risk children!
What We Need & A Thank You Token
To
help us reach the minimum amount of $21,000, we have outlined an assortment of gifts
for the donation of your choice as a thank you token for your generosity and as
a constant reminder of the needs of the children at Casa de Sion.
Chicken Namesake
Handmade Guatemalan Bracelets
Handcrafted Guatemalan Purse
Main Building at Casa de Sion
Here
is a quick list of necessary improvements to reopen the orphanage for the
children:
Primary projects
· Remodel kitchen and
dining area (electrical, windows, doors, finishing, paint, etc.)
· Build additional
floor for separate living quarters (bathrooms, electrical, windows, doors, trim
and finish work, paint, etc.)
· Build new fences to
separate playground and parking areas and repaint fences
· Install playground equipment
· Make and install new metal
signs and construct walking
paths
Items to be procured
· Plumbing (3 bathrooms
including 10 showers)
· Materials (concrete,
gravel, sand, commodes,paint,lumber, rebar)
· Electrical (wire,
plastic conduit, plugs, light sockets, fixtures, etc.)
· Tile (flooring and
bathrooms)
· Metal stair case (1
flight), 2 steel doors with hardware, 10 windows
· 8 computers and books (bilingual library)
· Lockers (children’s
personal items)
· Décor (paintings,
inspirational posters, etc.)
· 5 fire extinguishers
· Sheets and blankets
· Tools (welder,
buckets, shovels, pick ax, saws for metal and wood, pliers, cutters,
hammers, trowels, etc.)
If
we miss our goal of $21,000, your contributions will still be used to begin the necessary remodeling projects at the orphanage on a priority needs basis. If we exceed our goal
(yeah!), your contributions will be used at the orphanage to start our next project to expand a student scholarship program, setup a
medical/ physical therapy clinic, build a music classroom, mechanic shop, and
arts center.
As
a 501(c)3 not for profit organization, all contributions made to Service
Mentors are tax deductible. Please contact us at info@servicementors.org if you would like to receive an
official donation receipt.
The Long-term Impact
Since
we co-founded Service Mentors in 2008, we have brought together the drive and
expertise of numerous volunteers to positively impact the lives of many people.
With the help of our mentors and volunteers we empower those we serve with the
essential aptitudes, skills and tools needed to make productive and
sustainable changes in their lives and in their communities for
many years to come.
Children studying together at Casa de Sion
Caretaker house we built three summers ago at Casa de Sion
Other Ways You Can Help
Even
if your budget is limited and you can’t make a sizable donation today, you can
still help us raise the minimum funding required to help the orphanage by spreading
the word about our fundraising campaign. Use the share tools on this page to create
more awareness and get your friends and family involved! Like us on Facebook, follow up on Twitter, and
tell your family and friends about the cause!
Do you really want to make a lasting difference in the life of a child today? Help us raise $21,000 before the end
of the year to make a lasting impact in the lives of 30 at-risk children at the
Casa de Sion orphanage in Guatemala!
Become a service mentor today! For more info. visit us at:
www.servicementors.org