- J
Dear friends,
Our dear friend and trusted sister, Maritza, has worked with us for over 3 years providing coffee from her women's co-operative in the mountains of Nicaragua. We have visited her community in La Laguna, and witnessed its powerful commitment to the land and to one another. This area is home to more than 600 people, 95% of them indigenous farmers, with no fixed income, who grow basic crops such as corn and beans. They live in remote locations, 3 miles from the nearest medical facility, with no private transportation, and very limited access to buses and ambulances.
Last week, the town nearby, San Ramon, had the first confirmed COVID-19 case. Without access to a steady food supply, basic medical support, and in some cases, electricity and running water, this indigenous community's health and safety are in dire risk.
We have only a few days to raise $5,000 to help them secure food and medical supplies to protect and care for the community during the pandemic. Maritza, and the co-operative's executive team, will administer the funds and allocate them as needed. A young nurse that lives in the community will offer the first level of medical assistance.
Please donate now – we can make a huge difference with just a small amount of support.
In appreciation and reciprocity, all supporters will be invited to a virtual Summer Solstice circle and blessing with Maritza on June 21, 2020 to connect directly and hear from the community.
Over the years, the co-operative leadership has shown their honesty, tenacity, and resourcefulness. We are happy to know that they will be managing what’s best for the community on the ground. As part of their accounting for the co-operative, they will also be tracking the purchases and disbursements of these funds. This is their plan:
- Purchase food in bulk and store it in the co-op building - community members will purchase food at cost, without having to leave the area. Families economically affected by the virus (domestic employees, etc) unable to pay will be offered donations
- Purchase medical equipment, supplies, and medicines - administered by the local nurse in consultation with a doctor in San Ramon, as needed.
- Open a transportation fund (to allow urgent patients to reach the hospital)
- Enable a temporary location to offer first level medical assistance locally
Our donations will enable this community to acquire supplies to cover their basic needs, often already compromised. It will also allow them, for the first time, to have sovereignty over how they manage the health and economic crisis. The lack of medical assistance has been a long standing issue for this community. San Ramon has the closest medical facility, servicing more than 80 communities like La Laguna. It has one single ambulance to cover a vast rugged territory, spread 5 hours by car. Residents don’t own cars and there is only one crowded bus every day, so many times, patients and mothers with sick children must walk 45 minutes to arrive at the crowded health center, and then typically wait several hours before they can see a doctor.
Please consider donating to this well deserving community and forwarding this campaign to others by June 1st. As a gesture of appreciation and reciprocity, we will be inviting all supporters to a virtual Summer Solstice circle with Maritza.
With love,
Eva, Barbara, and Ellie
Our dear friend and trusted sister, Maritza, has worked with us for over 3 years providing coffee from her women's co-operative in the mountains of Nicaragua. We have visited her community in La Laguna, and witnessed its powerful commitment to the land and to one another. This area is home to more than 600 people, 95% of them indigenous farmers, with no fixed income, who grow basic crops such as corn and beans. They live in remote locations, 3 miles from the nearest medical facility, with no private transportation, and very limited access to buses and ambulances.
Last week, the town nearby, San Ramon, had the first confirmed COVID-19 case. Without access to a steady food supply, basic medical support, and in some cases, electricity and running water, this indigenous community's health and safety are in dire risk.
We have only a few days to raise $5,000 to help them secure food and medical supplies to protect and care for the community during the pandemic. Maritza, and the co-operative's executive team, will administer the funds and allocate them as needed. A young nurse that lives in the community will offer the first level of medical assistance.
Please donate now – we can make a huge difference with just a small amount of support.
In appreciation and reciprocity, all supporters will be invited to a virtual Summer Solstice circle and blessing with Maritza on June 21, 2020 to connect directly and hear from the community.
Over the years, the co-operative leadership has shown their honesty, tenacity, and resourcefulness. We are happy to know that they will be managing what’s best for the community on the ground. As part of their accounting for the co-operative, they will also be tracking the purchases and disbursements of these funds. This is their plan:
- Purchase food in bulk and store it in the co-op building - community members will purchase food at cost, without having to leave the area. Families economically affected by the virus (domestic employees, etc) unable to pay will be offered donations
- Purchase medical equipment, supplies, and medicines - administered by the local nurse in consultation with a doctor in San Ramon, as needed.
- Open a transportation fund (to allow urgent patients to reach the hospital)
- Enable a temporary location to offer first level medical assistance locally
Our donations will enable this community to acquire supplies to cover their basic needs, often already compromised. It will also allow them, for the first time, to have sovereignty over how they manage the health and economic crisis. The lack of medical assistance has been a long standing issue for this community. San Ramon has the closest medical facility, servicing more than 80 communities like La Laguna. It has one single ambulance to cover a vast rugged territory, spread 5 hours by car. Residents don’t own cars and there is only one crowded bus every day, so many times, patients and mothers with sick children must walk 45 minutes to arrive at the crowded health center, and then typically wait several hours before they can see a doctor.
Please consider donating to this well deserving community and forwarding this campaign to others by June 1st. As a gesture of appreciation and reciprocity, we will be inviting all supporters to a virtual Summer Solstice circle with Maritza.
With love,
Eva, Barbara, and Ellie