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. (FANLAP) became involved with the program in 1996, using funds donated by Club Cruceros de La Paz and Trinity Lutheran Church of Vancouver, Washington. Although FANLAP is not involved in this program, breakfast is still being served in a new dining room and kitchen built on this site.
The population of La Paz has grown rapidly in the past 20 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 opening in September, 2003, an average of 130 children (the numbers in 2011 have reached an average of 150 children a day) 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.
The Family Development Institute (DIF) of Baja California Sur provides some non-perishable food for meals. Funds provided by SEDESOL (Secretary of Social Development) are used to buy weekly fruit, meat, eggs, beans, rice and other foods needed to prepare meals.
The people of the neighborhoods use the building for meetings, parties and classes for adults. Summer workshops for children and youth are provided by the Department of Culture and DIF.
In 2010 we began to serve breakfast on Tuesday and Thursday at the dining room to augment the breakfast program on Monday Wednesday and Friday operated by the Catholic church in Colonias Marquez de Leon and Colonia Vista Hermosa.
