Assistance for Ek'Balam

2020 has been a tough year everywhere, but the community of Ek'Balam is having an especially difficult time. Their economy is based on tourism, primarily, and subsistence agriculture. With COVID-19, all tourism ground to a halt in March. This means the local archaeological zone is closed so no visitors are coming to the community. It also means that many residents who work on the coast in construction have also been out of work. On top of this, two recent hurricanes, Gamma and then Delta, brought torrential rains and flooding to Yucatan. Most houses in the community flooded. Most importantly, the village has lost its harvest of corn that would sustain them through the year. 

We are hoping to raise $3500.00 USD to send to Ek'Balam. This will provide a "despensa basica" or basic pantry box and 50 kilos of maize (dry corn, a staple food) for every household in the village. The remainder will be a relief fund for those whose houses suffered damage in the storms. While that may not seem like a lot to us (its around $250 per family), it represents enough to keep families fed for more than a month. 

I know this is a hard time for everyone and we are all feeling the effects of this pandemic. My hope is that by spreading this around our networks, starting with those of us who have been welcomed in Ek'Balam and learned so much,  many people can come together to give small amounts to reach our goal. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like more information.

Dios bo'otik! ("Thank you" in Yucatec Maya)