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Breakfast and Lunch Programs
In 1993, teachers of the grade school in Colonia Marquez de Leon reported a high incidence of poor attendance, bad study habits, and children fainting in class due to lack of food. Father Luis Ruggera initiated a before-school breakfast soon after in a small chapel located within walking distance of the school. A nun secured supplies and taught the women of the neighborhood how to cook for a large number of children.
Some associates of Fundación Ayuda Niños La Paz, A.C. became involved with the program in 1996, using funds donated by Club Cruceros de La Paz and Trinity Lutheran Church of Vancouver, Washington.
Presently breakfast is served in a new dining room and kitchen built with funds from a small village near Trent, Italy. While the program is sponsored by the Catholic Church, it is open to children of all denominations. The work done by women of the community is totally voluntary. FANLAP continues to purchase fruit, chicken and other items as needed to complement items provided by the church. Three mornings a week the children eat a complete meal such as scrambled eggs and ham, beans, tortillas, a drink and fruit. For many this is the only full meal they will have all day.
The population of La Paz has grown rapidly in the past 15 years, including the number of people who live in the colonias served by the breakfast kitchen. During this time other neighborhoods (Laguna Azul, Villas de Guadalupe and Vista Hermosa) developed even further from town; the children from these areas could not easily walk to the breakfast kitchen. In addition, the facilities, both human and physical, were being used to their maximum capacity.
After receiving two large donations through International Community Foundation (one anonymous and the other from Gene Henken, a businessman in San Diego), a new facility was built in Colonia Laguna Azul. Since September, 2003, an average of 130 children have received a hot lunch in the new dining room five days a week during the school year. Women of the neighborhood, all volunteers, do the work of preparation, serving and clean-up.
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