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McCoy High

Baja Gifts Program - part 1

In July of 2007, during our professional development "Summer Cruise for Teachers" we had a participant's Grade 6 class, from McCoy High School in Medicine Hat, Alberta, raise and donate $1665.00 US to the Panterra Baja Gifts Program. The teacher participant was Deanna Burzminski.
We waited until the McCoy high school student participants joined us on an expedition, March of 2008, to distribute the gifts. It only seemed fitting.
In the meantime, we informed the recipient communities of the gift from Deanna and her class and kindly requested a list of what it is they most needed. Each recipient gave us a very modest list to which we added to by asking our onboard crew.

The items included extensive first aid kits, school supplies, toiletries and toys for the children. We set out to fill the orders only to find that $1665.00 US spent in Mexico goes a very, very, very long way.
The high school students also brought down their own gift donations to include rosaries that were distributed to one particular community,

Recipient 1 - Isla Pardito

Mrs. English and a few of the kids bring along a First Aid Kit and 6 family gift packs.

The First Aid Kit included band-aids, throat drops, pain relief
for arthritis and back pain, aspirin, rubbing alcohol, red iodine,
cream for infections, Pepto Bismal, feminine hygiene, tensor
bandages, gauze pads, tape for gauze pads, medicine for
allergies, and for babies/children - throat drops, cold medicine,
thermometer and cough syrup.

Celia and Gilberto, our friends at the village,
accept the gifts on behalf of their community.
(from left to right - Mrs. English, Gilberto, Jose - their nephew , Celia, Samuel and Mr. Barth)

Devin gives a family pack which included shampoo/creme rinse,
body soap, hygiene products, cotton swabs, rubbing alcohol,
family pack of toothbrushes, toothpaste and notebook and pens.

Alysha hands out a gift pack as well. The other 4 packs
were handed out to the various other families by the students.

Recipient 2 - Las Palmas on Isla San Jose

The little ones follow behind out of curiosity.

On this trip they received a First Aid Kit and fresh food from the boat.

The contents of the First Aid Kit.

The McCoy group poses with some of the community members.
We would later return to give gift packs for both the families and their kids.

Recipient 3 - Esc. Primera Argentina Republica de El Triunfo

The school master had given us a list which we filled and added a few

more things to. The gifts included English/Espanol activity coloring books,
crayons, container for crayons, girl stuff (head bands, elastics and berrets), boy
stuff (trucks and action figures) notebooks, toys for teaching math, pencils, pens,
erasers, pencil sharpeners, pencil case, soccer balls and soccer cones,
basketballs and nets. There were 48 gift packs designated for students
grades 1 - 6 at this school.

On the last day of the expedition, the McCoy
group was supposed to distribute the gifts to the kids.

However, when we got there on Monday, March 31,
we were informed the kids would not return to school
until the following day. The McCoy students were
disappointed.

Taryn, Carisa and Sharesse had brought gifts for a family.
At least they were able to give one family a few gifts to
include a board game and clothing.

A quick photo of the students and the recipient family.

The following day Stasia and I returned with a back
seat and trunk full of gift packs to distribute to the school.

This is Luis the headmaster.

Stasia has set up the gift packs that have been
sorted into girl and boy bags and then by grade level .

The kids are excited by the gift packs.

The first group is grade 1.

Little Mr. Handsome on the left is hiding his excitement.

This is the grade 2 and 3 class.

This is grade 4 - 6 classes. A total school population of 48 students.

These are some of the gifts. Look at the
expression on the face of the young girl in the background.

This young man has his toys and crayons out already.

Checking out the gift inventory.

We had a few bags left over so
Stasia handed out toys to the onlookers.

Stasia takes a break to play with one of the youngsters,
sound effects and all. The onlookers had started gathering
and by the time we left all the bags and contents had been given out.

It is May 7 and we still have a few hundred dollars left to spend. As
we seek out new communities it has become a very enlightening
experience to be able to be a part of enhancing the lives of the
children and families of the communities, even for a brief moment.

Oh, we're not done yet we still have a remote community to
visit in part 2 and without a doubt there will be a part 3 to this donation.

Day 1 and 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 and 8

Baja Gifts Program - part 1 | Baja Gifts Program - part 2 | Back To Main Page

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