Raising funds to help defray travel expenses for the many master artisans who come to the Feria Maestros del Arte each November from all over Mexico has always been a challenging exercise.
This year the Feria board and volunteers have come up with an innovative way to help both the artisans and the environment: terracycling.
Believe it or not, collecting food wrappers and other items will make it possible for the artisans to bring their beautiful wares to the area, and beautify Lakeside by reducing trash.
Get together with your friends and see who can collect the most of the following items: snack bags (chips, nuts, crackers, pretzels, etc), wrappers from cookies, pan dulce and snackbars, bags from Bimbo products (bread, hotdog and hamburger buns). Also terracycle-able are toothpaste tubes, brushes and boxes, as are bar soap wrappers. Even powdered drink mix packaging and Jello packets are good.
If you don’t want to be seen around town going through other people’s trash, ask your corner store, favorite restaurant or neighborhood food vendor to save the items for you, or simply collect your own.
You don’t have to do anything special with the wrappers. Just take them to the five drop-off points, or get in touch with Lynda Deriger at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For the addresses of the drop-off points call (in Riberas) Lynda Deriger at 765-6455; (in Chapala) Susannah Kelly at 765-2008 or Marianne Carlson at 765-7485; and (in Ajijic) Rachel McMillan at 766-0216.
You can also drop off stuff with Cathy Roberts at Casa del Sol B&B, any day except Mondays.
The Feria Maestros del Arte brings together the top Mexican folk and indigenous artists in one venue, allowing people a chance to see the amazing diversity of color, texture, form and flavor that is the heart and soul of Mexico.
The 12th edition will be held from November 15 to 17 at the Chapala Yacht Club.