Lured by the promise of “delightful entertainment, delicious food and delovely accessories,” 102 ladies, plus a few brave men, gathered on November 19 at San Juan Cosala’s Viva Mexico Restaurant for an enjoyable luncheon fundraiser in aid of the town’s Operation Feed.
The event took place in the restaurant’s pleasant and spacious garden and before lunch there was a unique and well supported opportunity to purchase Stromberg Jewelry and Christa Louise Scarves. After the buffet meal, lively musical entertainment was provided by host and popular singer Patteye Simpson with her “backup gals” Graciela Ducet, Alexis Hoff, Val Jones and Wendy Petersen.
Operation Feed was born 24 years ago when two American couples, Loretta and Earl Smithberg and Ann and Jim Scott – later joined by Rosie and Arnie Mogset – approached Agustin Vázquez Calvario, owner of Restaurant Viva Mexico. They needed his assistance to organize some way of helping to feed families in the area who could not manage on their own.Vázquez says that initially he found it hard to believe that anyone would want to help look after someone else’s family. He thought it was a wonderful and extraordinary gesture. He adds that he, “… certainly had no idea of the scale of the problem.”
Over the past few years, the slowdown in the construction sector has severely impacted the San Juan Cosala community, which provides many of the maestros and tradesmen in this area of Lakeside. As a result yet more local families are under pressure.
Six years ago the surviving founders asked Vázquez to take over. Initially he was reluctant to do so but, with the invaluable support of Bernie and Penny St. Louis, Bud and Sandy Gullaguer, Alicia and Keith, Gloria and David Bryen. He took overall charge for delivery of the food bags and changed the distribution day to Thursdays.
This truly remarkable man has run Operation Feed ever since. Each week he travels to the Abastos wholesale market on Guadalajara and brings back over 1,000 kilos of staples: rice, beans, milk, rolled oats, pasta and oil. A team of volunteers undertakes the long job of weighing out all the dry goods into one-kilo bags and stacking them ready for distribution. This year, sausage has been added to the parcels and a group of ladies in Ajijic donate eggs. Food wholesalers now often contact Vázquez when they are able to offer essentials at favorable prices too. These parcels, or despensas, are not intended to provide all the families’ food needs but to assist the maximum number of people they can.
The dispensary has now been relocated to the property next door to his restaurant, which makes organization a lot easier. Instead of delivering food, supplies are collected from this bodega on production of an identity card, by each of the 85 families currently receiving assistance – representing approximately 475 people.
Sometimes support has to be withdrawn. A touchingly empathetic and humble man, Vázquez says it is never easy having to stop supplying a family but, “If there’s a new car or a satellite dish outside their home, then their need can’t be as great as others.” It is very clear that such decisions are extremely hard for him to make but, with many others on the waiting list, he knows he has little choice.
Vázquez and his team do a remarkable job and it is hoped that the 20 percent of all proceeds from the luncheon, currently amounting to some 8,335 pesos, will help Operation Feed to continue its essential work.
In addition to the weekly food despensas, Operation Feed also runs clothing drives and English classes. To get involved, make a donation or simply learn more, go to the Operation Feed website, http://operationfeedsjc.squarespace.com.