Main fundraiser photo

Food for Pisco

Donation protected

The whole world is struggling right now, but some of the poorest places are in immediate risk. One of these is Pisco, Peru. Much of the small city was destroyed in an earthquake in 2007, leaving whole neighbourhoods without basic shelter or security. In the last few years, they have been joined by Venezulan refugees escaping a different kind of disaster. 



Myself and hundreds of other gringos got to know them volunteering with an NGO called Pisco Sin Fronteras that ran from 2008 to 2012. Together, we helped build simple homes, daycares, and playgrounds for their children (para los ninos).  It was run with support from Burners Without Borders.




Many of us stay connected to Pisco through Ricardo Martin Palomino Conislla, aka Martin. He’s kept helping in Pisco, including fundraising for baby Norma, who lives today because of donations from former volunteers.



Martin has been telling us how bad things are. Everyone is rationing. Some are begging. His family is already switching between solid food one day and soup the next. Martin figures the best way to help is to buy basic food in bulk and distribute it, with hopes of feeding 50 families for two weeks. If you can donate, here’s the food your money will be buying:

Rice            750 Soles = 250 kgs at 3 Soles / kg
Beans        400 Soles = 100 kgs at 4 Soles / kg
Eggs           300 Soles = 50kgs at 6 Soles / kg
Noodles   300 Soles = 100 kgs at 3 Soles / kg
Oil               250 Soles = 50 bottles at 5 Soles / bottle
Milk           700 Soles = 200 bottles at 3.50 Soles / bottle 
Tuna          500 Soles = 200 cans at 2.50 Soles / can
Sugar        625 Soles = 250 kgs at 2.50 Soles/ kg w

TOTAL 3,825 Soles  (approximately $1125 USD / 1040 EU / 1575 CND / 1765 AUD)

If we can raise more than that, it can continue to feed more families for longer. Pisco barely has enough medical care at the best of times, so it will be a while. On the plus side, it's much cheaper than the US or the EU, so our $, € and £ go a long way.

Once Martin has the money he will get help from the local police to safely purchase and distribute the food directly to each of the families (including Norma’s). Martin’s family is part of the community, so they will get a share of it, but none of the money donated will pay for his or anyone else’s labour. Todos somos voluntarios “para los niños.”

We all know that the world is too big for any of us to really help as well as we’d like. This may just be a drop in the bucket, but for me, it’s the best place I know of to give directly to people in urgent need. 

I understand many of you are struggling too, so please don’t feel bad if you need to take care of you and yours. Even small donations or sharing social media can go a long way. If the pictures of the empty streets have taught me anything, surviving this is a team effort :)

If you can donate, it will make a huge difference to these families. For me, it is also a reminder that despite all the uncertainty, I have things to be grateful for and something to offer back beyond staying home and washing my hands.

Many thanks!

Martin, Chriz (aka North), Mel Achuka, Michael Kessler,  Matt Bell and all of you :)

Donate

Donations 

  • Timothy Brown
    • $10 
    • 4 yrs
Donate

Fundraising team: PSF Alums (2)

Chriztopher North
Organizer
Raised $631 from 17 donations
Toronto, ON
Mel King
Team member
Raised $75 from 2 donations
This team raised $2,110 from 39 other donations.

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.