Update July 7, 2021 (update from Mary):

Recently IMS donated a large amount of art materials to a local artist by the name of Kathi.  As you will read from Mary's account of her, Kathi does a lot for the community: 

Kathi has lived in Rio Dulce for 8 years.  And when the need arises, she has raised money in this local community for organizations such as the Bomberos and Centro de Salud along with the school children of Cayo Quemado and relief for victims of the volcano (in Antiqua) and two floods locally. 

Her current project is upcycling bottles with her personal artwork and selling to the local community.  This, as all previous fundraisers, ensures that 100% of the donations received, goes to benefit her favorite Guatemalan organization, the Rio Dulce Bomberos (EMT, Rescue and Fire Fighting).

 Government support for this fire station is minimal compared to that in the United States. Funds need to be raised on a monthly basis regarding operational and maintenance costs for the fire truck and ambulances. And there are no provisions for training, personal fire gear and supplies for the wound care room and ambulances.  Thus, without additional funding, it difficult to provide urgent care for births and medical care enroute to hospitals for victims of accidents, heart attacks, strokes, etc.

 Currently there are 6 paid positions and 50 volunteers who, on average, respond to 150 calls a month covering 100 communities throughout this region.

 

 Above is a photo of Kathi...

 Some of Kathi's beautiful bottle art... 

 

Donations made to Kathi from IMS consisted of:

1.)    Approx. 40+lbs of mixed variety beads, shells, crystals, jewelry pieces

2.)    (2) tubes E6000 glue

3.)    Small/scrap Fiberglass

4.)    8 skeins Vintage yarn

5.)    1 large bag various scrap fabric