Can you imagine Christmas without a Special Dinner?

The elderly poor of Coroico, Bolivia are severely affected by massive inflation. They can barely afford basic foodstuffs. The one thing they look forward to each year is the Christmas dinner prepared by our aunt Lena Harney and the Coroico parish team. It brings them tremendous joy and the food parcel provided with the meal sustains them for over 1 week afterwards.

My name is David Mc Donnell, my family and I have been raising money to support the work of our aunt Lena Harney in Bolivia for the past 20 years.

This Christmas we'd like to provide the elderly in Coroico with a Christmas dinner and food hamper to ensure they enjoy the festive season.

You have supported us on many previous occasions and hope you can do so once again.

Your help will bolster existing community efforts to help the local elderly population.

Why Bolivia: Bolivia is the poorest country in South America. Inflation is a problem in all countries but disproportionately affects the impoverished. Basic foodstuffs like rice have doubled in price in just the last 12 months. Your contribution can make a real difference. Lena has worked with the poor in Coroico, Bolivia for almost 30 years.

What: A Christmas meal and a food parcel containing groceries and Christmas cake for hundreds of elderly poor people. Truth be told, the Christmas cake or (Panetone) is the most important element of the hamper. It is the one indulgence they enjoy at Christmas but can’t buy themselves when they don’t have money for basic necessities. This cake puts a huge smile on their faces. A food hamper costs $25 and will provide numerous hot meals over the holiday period. The community Christmas meal held each year is a joyous occasion for the seniors of the area, a highlight in their social calendar. Meal cost comes to $5 per person.

Can you support us with 2 meals and two parcels - total $60? One for each senior in the home.

Matching alert: Your donation will be matched by an anonymous donor to the value of $5,000. Please double your contribution with their help.

How: Please contribute through this site. 100% of all donations will go directly to help those most in need. There are no overhead/administrative costs – all donations will go towards joy and sustenance for those who otherwise would go without this Christmas.

Thank you in advance!

David

Additional info:

My aunt Lena Harney, a Franciscan sister, has lived in Coroico for over 30 years educating the young and supporting the needy. Each year, she and the parish provide a Christmas lunch and hamper for the elderly poor of the area. It is a joyous occasion for the old folks of the town. This effort is supported by your donations along with funds raised by Fr Freddy and the Cashan family in the US.

Christmas Meal & Food Parcel Breakdown

Each parcel costs USD25 and provides the making of many meals over the holidays. Christmas lunch consists of chicken, roasted potatoes, veggies, bread and plantain - cost comes to $5. Can you support us by buying two meals and parcels for both seniors in the home - $60? We'd love to hit a target of 250 meals/parcels though there is demand for up to 600.

Matching alert: Your donation will be matched by an anonymous donor to the value of $5,000. Please double your contribution with their help.

The local team

Front: Fr Freddy, Vanesa, Marisol, Alfonso, Sr Lena

Middle: Angela, Irma

Back: Marisa, Maximo, Sara

About Lena

Lena Harney is a Franciscan nun who has worked with the poor in Florida, Peru and Bolivia for the past 45 years. She runs a small farm and boarding house near Coroico for children so they can attend the local secondary school.