Help Brighten the Lives of Children in Poverty

If you have been a shopper at garage sales, tag sales, or yard sales, or whatever you call them where you are from, you know you can find some great treasures at super prices. In Costa Rica, ventas de garaje, as they are called here, not only provide super bargains for shoppers, but also are a significant and important component to many non-profits’ fundraising plans.

Hogarcito San Ramon is home to 18 children, ages 2 months to 12 years who have been orphaned or are unable to be cared for by their families. While Hogarcito receives some government funding for their program, it is never enough to cover all of their needs and additional income-generating activities are always required. As a result of the generosity of CAA members and friends, CAA is able to make financial contributions to provide a traditional party and special gift for each child on their birthday; to support workshop activities in music, sports, chess, and English instruction; and to assist with the cost of special outings during school vacations or special holidays. CAA members’ generosity, does not stop here, however. At the Hogarcito’s recent venta de garaje, CAA members and friends jumped in to help contribute in other ways.

Gently used clothing, shoes, housewares, linens, children’s toys and games, books, and sports equipment are just some of the treasures that CAA folks scoured their closets for and dropped off at Hogarcito in preparation for the sale. For those who didn’t have a way to get their items to Hogarcito, others volunteered to pick items up and deliver them. For two days before the sale, CAA folks worked alongside local Hogarcito volunteers to sort, price, and display the donated items. And still others provided needed support during the three days of the sale by helping to restock items, keeping tables and shelves organized, and even becoming happy, paying customers who found treasures of their own! The combined effort and energy of CAA’s and Hogarcito’s volunteers produced the needed financial results for Hogarcito’s budget and, in addition, was a fun and rewarding experience for all involved.

CAA members and friends continue to make a difference in our community not only by donating their dollars, but also by donating their time and their talents to the partner organizations we support. And we are ever grateful for their ongoing generosity and support in the variety of ways they offer them.