Love in Action at Lake Chapala !
August 17, 2008
Love in Action is a home where children whom have suffered neglect or were in a high-risk home environment, are placed by the Mexican government with the purpose of providing them with a temporary and safe shelter.
Love in Action is located on Mount Tepehua (te-pay-wah) in the town of Chapala in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. This part of town is one the poorest in the area with a high percentage of single parent homes.
They presently house 40 children with ages ranging from 2 to 16 years old. In addition to this, we also provide day care services for single mothers from the neighborhood.
They are nearing the end of a three year process which will complete their full A. C. (civil association or nonprofit) status. Apart from being accountable to their board of directors, the center is continually visited by government officials that come in to inspect the many activities.
How did the “Love in Action” center begin ?
Anabel Frutos, the founder of the Love in Action Center, is a native of Mexico, born in Guadalajara under impoverished circumstances. She and her husband, Raul, now live in a poorer district in the town of Chapala.
Anabel was aware of the great needs and poverty around her and felt she needed to respond. In 2001, a feeding program was established from her car port for children from the neighborhood.
The original group soon began bringing their siblings and friends and then their mothers as well and a parenting class was added to this weekly event.
One day Anabel counted over one hundred people in her house and yard and realized that a more permanent solution must be found. Armed with her determination and faith in God, she found an old pottery manufacturing shop that consisted of a number of small buildings. A step of faith was taken to secure a piece of property where people from the area could come to be fed and encouraged.
Eventually classes were implemented to teach a skill that could help those with a limited income to generate finances.
Some of the courses offered were: English, guitar, tin sculpting, crafts, sewing and salon training.
She saw a need to establish a day care for the neighborhood and when they went to get certified as an A.C., (civil association or nonprofit) the government asked if we would consider being a shelter for children. So now, along with being a day care, we are also helping children that are sent to us from throughout the state of Jalisco in Mexico.
The Love in Action Children’s Shelter in Chapala is expanding once again.
With the help of interested parties, the shelter recently bought a home in the nearby village of Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos ( just 10 minutes North of Chapala) to shelter the pre-teen boys in their care.
The larger property, owned by the Oasis Association — which has been operating an orphanage there — has been appraised at 850,000 dollars.
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or (376)763-5126
Moonyeen King at moonie1935@yahoo.com
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or (376)763-5126
Anabel Frutos at director@loveinactioncenter.org
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or (376)765-7409.
WOW ! What a Group Doing So Much Good !
These folks are not just giving fish. They are teaching “How to Fish !
Got something to say?