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Weekly meals for elderly neighbors in Iztapalapa

Help keep a free food pantry open for elderly neighbors in Iztapalapa.

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ Iztapalapa, Ciudad de Mรฉxico, Mexico2,301 views
Carolina H. Vargas
Email verifiedPhoto verified
Iztapalapa
Since 2021, our volunteer team has run Open Hands Pantry every Monday from the back of a school canteen. We started with 9 families, and now we feed 109 each week. Donations have dropped by about 48% this summer, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 19 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Iztapalapa market and keep every receipt. Each $15 feeds a family of four for a week. I'll post the weekly shopping receipts and a photo of the shelves each Sunday. Where the $950 goes: โ€ข Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $510 โ€ข Fresh vegetables and fruit: $320 โ€ข Baby formula and diapers: $85 โ€ข Refrigeration and electricity: $35 If you're reading this, thank you. - Carolina

Updates from Carolina

  1. We're at 44% thanks to 12 of you. I met with the wholesaler and confirmed the amounts. More news soon.

  2. Good news. Because of your gifts ($236 in total) the first invoice got paid this week. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท ยท $5
  • Josephine F. Moore ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ยท $15
  • Savannah W. Daniels ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $25
  • Cristian Florea ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด ยท $11.50
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡น ยท $25
  • Manuel E. Salazar ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ ยท $10
  • Nneka Ngozika Balogun ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ ยท $15
  • Cris C. Martinez ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ยท $50
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ ยท $20
  • Tobias Huber ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ยท $25

    โ€œThought of Carolina all day after reading this. - Frankfurtโ€

  • Hadley Watts ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $100
  • Nikhil J. Pandey ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $50
  • Slamet Andi Rahman ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ ยท $6

    โ€œYou got this. Thought of Carolina all day after reading this. - Jakartaโ€

  • Bushra Zainab Yousafzai ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ ยท $5

    โ€œFrom my family to yours. Thought of Carolina all day after reading this. - Lahoreโ€

  • Davide Sartori ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น ยท $10
  • Anand W. Sivakumar ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $25
  • Ama Quaye ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ญ ยท $10
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท ยท $67
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $50
  • Yewande Joy Uzor ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ ยท $23.50

    โ€œGod bless. Only $24 but hope it helps.โ€

Reviews

2.6(8 reviews)

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

  • Sandra Valentina Bastos๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ทVerified helper
    Delivered on promises

    Perfect example of someone making a real difference. They took time out of their busy schedule to help me and never made me feel like a burden.

  • Vanessa L. Mercado๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญVerified donor
    Great help in a difficult time

    Couldn't have asked for better support. They listened carefully, understood my situation deeply, and provided thoughtful advice that actually worked. Thank you so much.

  • Samira Amal Bouzid๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ฌVerified donor
    Exceeded expectations

    Couldn't have asked for better support. They listened carefully, understood my situation deeply, and provided thoughtful advice that actually worked. Thank you so much.

  • Javier F. Dรญaz๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝVerified donor
    Very responsive and caring

    I was skeptical at first, but this person proved to be reliable and genuinely interested in helping. Their response time was incredible and their solutions were practical.

  • Jackson H. Zimmerman๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธVerified donor
    Amazing support system

    I was going through a tough time and this person's support was invaluable. They didn't judge, just helped. That kind of genuine compassion is rare these days.

  • Nada Farah Abdallah๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ฌVerified helper
    Reliable and compassionate

    I was nervous about reaching out, but this person made me feel comfortable and supported from the very first interaction. Their help was invaluable.

  • Louis Guillaume Fontaine๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ทVerified donor
    Restored my faith in humanity

    I was going through a tough time and this person's support was invaluable. They didn't judge, just helped. That kind of genuine compassion is rare these days.

  • Revathi W. Reddy๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณVerified donor
    Honest and trustworthy

    The support I received was beyond what I expected. Not only did they help with the immediate need, but they also provided guidance for long-term solutions. I'm forever grateful.

Questions & comments

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  • Hope things get better soon, Carolina. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Don't give up. Thinking of Iztapalapa.

    • gave what I could, wish it was more. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. God bless!

      • Hang in there, Carolina. I hope things turn around soon.

        • gave what I could, wish it was more. We're a small family in Sydney but we're thinking of you. Take care.

          • Hope things get better soon. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. My neighbor in Madina donated after I showed her your page. Take care.

            • Hope it all works out, Carolina. I hope things turn around soon. I went through something like this 13 years ago and strangers helped me out. Greetings from Lviv.

              • thanks for sharing this. Gave what I could, wish it was more. Wish I lived closer to Breda so I could bring a meal.

                • keep going, Carolina. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. Put this on a community board in Gwagwalada this morning. Love from Gwagwalada.

                  $598 raised of $950

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