The team of drivers and trainers returned from Mazatlan, Mexico, on Friday May 6, where they had delivered 8 public safety vehicles and trained 36 Mexican EMS volunteers. This was the culmination of the Los Amigos project for 2016 - we now start on the project for 2017. The Los Amigos project is an joint venture among 12 Rotary clubs in District 5360 stretching from Kindersley to Pincher Creek and Calgary to Cardston. Over the year we encourage our local municipalities to donate retired ambulances, fire trucks, handibuses and school buses to Los Amigos so that we may drive them some 4,600 km to Mazatlan, Mexico, where they are donated to Mexican local authorities judged to have the greatest need by our Rotarian partners in Mazatlan. Without this partnership of District 4150 in Mazatlan area, this project could not possibly work.
This year's convoy drove down 2 ambulances, 2 fire trucks and 4 handibuses each of which were loaded with wheelchairs, walkers, hoses, air tanks, fire fighters protective clothing and basically anything else we could scrounge that would A) be useful and B) is permitted to be imported into Mexico.
Since all vehicles and their cargo are imported into Mexico on a strictly duty free basis it becomes vital to first receive formal permission for duty free importation before even departing Alberta. Obtaining this permission is a prolonged process involving hours filling in forms in the Spanish language, photographing and recording details of each item and then couriering all that down to Mexico City. For the 2016 year over 500 sheets of paper were sent down - a lot of boring paperwork.
The Los Amigos project began 6 years ago in Lethbridge with the co-operation of the then 4 Rotary clubs in town. Each succeeding year more Rotary clubs have joined in to now involve 12 clubs. Each club approaches their local municipality seeking donations of vehicles and/or equipment. The driving team is selected from those donating Rotary clubs. We try to have an experienced Los Amigos driver paired with a new driver - not because a lack of driving skills but because it is very useful to know A) the route, B) the best places to stop a convoy, C) the procedures at each international border and D) the process of delivering each vehicle to the receiving Mexican town.
As a valuable offshoot of the initial Los Amigos project, for the past 2 years volunteers from the Lethbridge and Pincher Creek firefighters and EMS staff have given up their vacation time to fly down to Mazatlan to instruct an EMS course at the Autonomous University of Mazatlan for Mexican firefighters and EMS volunteers. The course is designed to train the trainers so that the firefighters and EMS volunteers in each town receives instruction.
The quite remarkable Rotaract Club at the University of Lethbridge donated money to finance the construction of a "Pallet School" in a very poor part of Mazatlan where children might otherwise never go to school at all. The school literally consists of shipping pallets stood on end as walls, the floor is simple dirt, the roof is best described as flimsy but it works - and works well. The children are bright, happy, attentive and mischievous - as kids should be. The gratitude of the parents is obvious. This has encouraged the local municipality to begin the construction of a proper school building using concrete and blockwork, etc. which will also serve as the district's hurricane shelter if necessary.
6 years ago Los Amigos began with 3 school buses and since then has "Grown like Topsy”. This growth happened due to the great efforts of Rotarians talking to Rotarians. The initial drive down was part of the convoy from Grand Prairie and area where Rotarians have been involved in a similar project, driving similar vehicles to Mazatlan, for the past 11 years. Again, Rotarians helping Rotarians to benefit communities far and wide.
Do you know? The Lethbridge Food Bank is currently serving 1600 individuals (40% are children) each month and we anticipate this will grow exponentially with this struggling economy. As of the end of April 2016, statistics show an increase of 103 more hampers and 245 more individuals each month over the same period last year. With this increase, we must expand our warehouse to accommodate the foods we purchase to help families in need.
Join us on Thursday, August 4 at Paradise Canyon for a great day of golf.
Lunch/Registration starts at 12:00 noon, Shot Gun at 1:30 Dinner to follow with our Auction
Sponsor Steak Dinner
Sponsor BBQ Lunch
Sponsor a Team of Golfers
Sponsor GPS on all Carts
Sponsor Golf Carts
Sponsor a Hole in One
Sponsor our Photographer
Sponsor a Beverage
Sponsor a Hole
Donate a Team Prize
Donate an Auction Item
Donate a Tee Gift for Golfers
Major sponsors receive recognition through our websites, Facebook and twitter accounts before, during and after our golf tournament.
Please show your support and allow us to promote your business to help us raise the needed funds to purchase healthy staples for our clients by either entering a team or sponsoring a part of our tournament. We could not help so many families without your continued support.
Canadian Tire has been a National Sponsor for the past 8 years to our Care for Kids Golf Tournament. Canadian Tire not only helps support the Lethbridge Food Bank but contributes locally in so many ways. We need the support of local businesses to help make this golf tournament one of the best in Southern Alberta. Please show your support to our Care for Kids Golf Tournament by sponsoring a part of our tournament.
Looking forward to seeing you August 4 at Paradise Canyon Golf and Country Club!
