Due to the Pandemic, this year has been a challenge for our students. Many families have been financially affected by the COVID-19, losing their jobs, and sadly, sometimes their loved ones. With our Christmas Baskets we would like to brighten the holiday season, bring smiles to their faces and share some holiday cheer with our students who have made a tremendous effort all year to continue their studies. The Christmas Baskets are a positive message of optimism and hope for tomorrow.
Besides meeting basic food needs, the Christmas Baskets will bring cheer and joy during the holiday season as this special Christmas bread, or Paneton as it is called in Bolivia, served with hot chocolate is a family tradition at Christmas time, a time for people to come together and share goodwill. We wish to lift our students and their families out of these depressing times and give them a boost to begin 2022.
With the charitable donations we will be able to purchase the items necessary for 115 students. Each Christmas Basket will contain a 750 gm Paneton, a 120 gm bag of powdered milk, one 180 gm bag of cocoa powder for making hot chocolate, and one 388 gm box of cookies. As well, each of the 25 children 13 years of age and under will receive a Christmas gift worth $3. 50. The Christmas Baskets will be delivered to the students and children the week of December 20th.
With much effort this last year we have given extra aid to our students through internet access and supplemental food aid in order to keep our students in their programs of education. We have been very successful in doing this and hopefully the Christmas Baskets will encourage them further to continue their studies despite any adversities that might come along.
