The Grupo Ecologico de Puerto Vallarta, A.C. (Puerto Vallarta Ecological Group) has organized a walk along the banks of the Pitillal river to see the results of five years of reforestation efforts.

The walk will take place Saturday, May 17 at 9:00am and will last for 1 1/2 hours. There are two simultaneous starting points for the walk. The Public Works building (Caseta de Obras Publicas) in front of the Pitillal Soriana and the Proteccion Civil building on the North side of the river. See the map below.

If you are in Vallarta, I would recommend going on the walk. You will be able to see a part of the city you rarely have a chance to visit.

I received an email today from Candace of Fishing with Carolina about a charity event that is going to be held at the Banana Cantina in Olas Altas on Wednesday, March 19.

The event will raise money for AUTISM 02 center in Puerto Vallarta. Ten percent of the day’s sales are donated to the center.

I believe the events begins at 6:00pm. Call or email Banana Cantina at 322-222-2114, pvbananacantina@aol.com to confirm.

There will be a great raffle and the following local businesses have generously donated prizes:
Cassandra Shaw Jewelry

Mama Dolores
Encuentros Lounge
Bruces Back Alley

Ooh La La!

Encanto Restaurant

Lucy’s Cucu Cabana

Fishing with Carolina

Chiropractor Dr. Basil
Aboud

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Another worthy charity in Puerto Vallarta is the Santa Esperanza Children’s Center. Read more about the center and events held to raise money in the following posts:
Benefit Auction at the T Fuller Gallery
One Special Boy

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If you know of any charity events being held in Puerto Vallarta, please notify me at adminstrator@vallartablog.com. I will make every effort to post the event on VallartaBlog to help spread the word.

I received an email on New Year’s Day from Sudy Coy (sudycoy@yahoo.com) one of the directors at the Santa Esperanza Children’s Home (Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza, A.C.) about a special little boy in Puerto Vallarta named Spencer Kawalek. What a great way to start the new year.

The following is what Sudy wrote about Spencer:

SPENCER KAWALEK DELIVERS CHECK TO RI.S.E. FOR $5,000 PESOS

This exceptional little boy wrote a book, ¨I LOVE COCONUTS¨ at the tender age of 4 1/2 years old.  He told his Mom and Dad, ¨I want the money from the sale of my book to go to the children at R.I.S.E.¨.  Spencer just turned 5 years old and in 6 months his book has been selling at the Book Store and on his website www.spencerkawalek.com.  The book which sells for $100 pesos is also now available for sale at the Botanical Gardens.

Spencer enjoys coming to the Refugio and playing with the children and the children love spending time with him because he is already fluent in Spanish.

Spencer was so excited to present his check to Madre Mari and Sol mtz Maciel Rios, Administrator at R.I.S.E., along with his proud parents Monique & Dr. Wayne Kawalek.

SPENCER, YOU ARE AN ANGEL IN THE EYES AND HEARTS OF ALL THE CHILDREN AT R.I.S.E.

Follow the link to read about a benefit auction recently held for the children’s shelter.

Spencer presenting the $5,000 peso check at the children’s home.

Last night, I attended a benefit art auction for the Santa Esperanza Children’s Home (Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza, A.C.) at the T Fuller Gallery in downtown Puerto Vallarta.

At the event, I met Sudy Coy (sudycoy@yahoo.com), one of the directors at the shelter. We had a great conversation about the shelter’s mission and giving something back to Vallarta. Sudy has such a passion for what the shelter is trying to accomplish and her passion is contagious. I quickly volunteered to help promote the shelter’s work through my blog.

I took the following mission statement from the shelter’s website so that you have a better understanding of the Shelter’s work. Please click on the link to the shelter to read more and to see pictures.

The REFUGIO INFANTIL SANTA ESPERANZA, (R.I.S.E.), is a NON-PROFIT shelter for babies and children under the age of 14 who have been turned over to R.I.S.E. by DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia), a Mexican government organization that is the legal representative for minors under the age of 14. DIF’S main objective is to reintegrate these children with their families, but this is not always possible. R.I.S.E. gives these children a safe and loving place to live because they have no other choice in their lives.

“Some” of the children are only here temporarily while their problems are resolved at home, but sadly, some have been in institutions most of their young lives. We have babies that have been abandoned; babies that were born in prison and babies that for some reason or another cannot be cared for, and are placed with us.

If your would like to help the shelter in any way please contact Sudy (sudycoy@yahoo.com).

The auction was a great success. Local galleries and artists donated pieces to sell. The most coveted work was done by local artist Rogelio Diaz. Nearly every piece that was donated was sold.

Here are a few pictures of the happy art buyers who got some great deals:

Sudy Coy is in the middle wearing a pink t-shirt and blue skirt.

More pictures on the next page.

Sudy Coy and Fernando Flores

We have only been working on the blog for a couple of weeks now and interest in posts related to charitable organizations and social groups has been high. If you are associated with a charitable organization that operates in Puerto Vallarta or the Banderas Bay area, please send us any information about your organization and scheduled events. We will make every attempt to post the information as a service to the community. Contact us at administrator@vallartablog.com. Click on the link (Local Charities and Non-Profits )to view an extensive list of charities and non-profit organizations compiled by Banderas News.

The city of Puerto Vallarta still has drop points open to receive food and clothing to help the victims of the flood in the state of Tabasco. This donation center is located in the Parque Hidalgo, downtown. Please give whatever you can.

According to the Red Cross the following items are most needed: bottled water, sugar, canned beans, sardines, powdered milk, fruits and vegetables, non-perishable canned goods, feminine hygiene products, new blankets, instant coffee, cooking oil, baby food, tuna, salt, crackers, disposable diapers, toilet paper, clothing, medications and pain relievers.

Click Here for ways you can make donations to help the victims. More than 500,000 people have lost their homes and all of their worldly possessions.

Simply Speaking, The Amigos de Bucerias monthly program of
informative and entertaining topics presented by persons with a
Bucerias connection, will kick off at 7 p.m., Jalisco, on Wednesday,
November 7th at the Bucerias Bilingual Cultural Center (BBCC).
The BBCC is on Calle 16 de Septiembre, three houses south of
Matamoros street on the east side of the highway. Matamoros is the
east/west street immediately north of Carnes del Mundo.

There will be 2 speakers “sharing the stage” the first night. Ron
and Arlene Tackett, of Bucerias, will talk about Bucerias Christmas
for Kids, a free Christmas toy program that they began 13 years ago.
Last year, over 900 children from Bucerias and surrounding areas
received a toy and some sweets, thanks to the Tacketts and their
volunteer Santa helpers.

The second guest will be another Bucerias resident, Brus Westby, a
professional psychotherapist, who will speak about some of the
emotional difficulties we face as foreigners in a new country,
whether we’re working or retired. He’ll also discuss how we can
utilize “tools” in working with our emotions to develop personal
clarity and calmness, to help our understanding of our new
environment, and improve our relationships with others.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR A FUN AND INFORMATIVE EVENING!

The American School of Puerto Vallarta is receiving donations to aid flood victims in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. According to the Red Cross the following items are most needed: bottled water, sugar, canned beans, sardines, powdered milk, fruits and vegetables, non-perishable canned goods, feminine hygiene products, new blankets, instant coffee, cooking oil, baby food, tuna, salt, crackers, disposable diapers, toilet paper, clothing, medications and pain relievers.  The school is accepting donations until Friday, November 9. If you have any questions you can contact the school at  221-1525. American School of Puerto Vallarta

The city of Puerto Vallarta has drop point for donations in Marina Vallarta directly in front of the Puesta del Sol Condos on the main road into the Marina. The sign indicates that they are receiving donations from 10:00am to 6:00pm. Even if someone isn’t there to receive donations, people are leaving donated items in front of the drop point sign and the items are picked up later. City of Puerto Vallarta Website

For more information about the flood and relief efforts check out the following links.

Root Coffee Blog – This blog written by Sol Orozco Hernandez provides first hand accounts from family members living in Tabasco and an extensive set of links to relief agencies.
Root Coffee Blog – Tabasco Flood Relief

Tabasco Donation Information from Root Coffee Blog

CNN
Mexico Floods

BBC
Mexico Floods