Project Mercy
As in previous years, we are planning to build a house for an impoverished family in the Colonias of Tijuana. Except this year, because of COVID19, we will construct the walls and parts of the house on this side of the border, on a large empty lot in Chula Vista, following strict safety protocols. On Saturday, October 24th, we will meet at the site with a group of ~12 volunteers to build housing components for shipment to Mexico.
- If you can volunteer (no special skills needed), please contact Renate Pilz (rpilz@ucsd.edu; or 858-456-2143 for a message)
- If you can help us raise funds for one house ($6000) and one latrine ($1000), please go to: http://projectmercybaja.org/
all-hallows-oct-2020-home- (this link is to donate specifically to the AH house project)build-donation-page/ - For more information about the Mena Family we will be building for, see below.
- For general information about the non-profit organization Project Mercy please go to https://projectmercybaja.org
Thank you for your support!
Medina Mena family (M16 L16 Alondras)
Maria was born in Zacatecas and Raúl in Mexico City. They met each other when they were neighbors at one point and have now been together 36 years. They migrated to Tijuana about 17 years ago in search of work and a better life.
Granddaughter Kenia worries a lot about her grandparents and loves to take care of them. She is very intelligent and inquisitive. She wants to be a doctor. Raúl Alexander loves animals and likes to run around. He wants to be a construction worker and build houses.
Raúl and Maria both work as Uber drivers and earn around 2000 pesos per week ( $95).
Raúl and Maria have custody of their grandchildren because their mother abandoned them after their father left. Their house is so small that Mariia sleeps in the house with the grandchildren and Raúl in a tent. Maria suffers from diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
In Maria and Raúl’s own words:
“We have to take turns working because we have no one to take care of the children. There are many fleas and ticks in the house, the floor is made of dirt, we have no light and the food is spoiled by the heat, we have to buy ice bags so that it does not get spoiled.
We dream of a better house in order to provide a happier life for our grandchildren. A place that is more secure where we are able to sleep more peacefully. We are trying to get ahead but it is a daily struggle. The possibility of having a decent house is a true dream for us.
May God bless you very much and we hope you can understand the difference you are making with what you do for us and others in need. We thank you from the bottom of my heart because we are in great need. These times have been very difficult. We want to do better but we need your help, it would be a great relief to our family.”
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