A new charity store that doesn’t accept money is helping needy residents in San Juan Cosala obtain essential items for their families.
The brainchild of founders Tony Trueblood, Jonnie Harker and Nancy Brown, the Magical Token Store opened in the lakeshore pueblo last August.
The store only accepts tokens, which can be earned by serving the community or participating in local initiatives.
“This is a hand-up, not a hand-out,” says Brown. “We want people to retain their pride and dignity.”
Tokens can be earned in a variety of ways. For example, each Tuesday morning a community clean-up attracts between 50-60 people, who armed with brooms, rakes and dustpans, clean streets and sidewalks.
Families also earn tokens by making sure their children participate in programs to stay out of gangs and off drugs. Youngsters involved on soccer teams or in the village orchestra can earn tokens.
Tokens are given to school teachers who encourage students to maintain regular attendance and work hard. Adults taking classes offered by ProMexico, such as cooking or massage, can also obtain tokens.
“The concept is exactly what this community needs,” says Harker. “We have found that people have pride in being able to work for their community and see the rewards.”
“It is wonderful to see how proud people are when they can ‘buy’ something their family needs with their own labor,” says Gary Silberberg, the initiative’s newest volunteer.
The Magical Token Store was named by having a contest. Residents submitted suggestions, and, of course, the prize was tokens. The tokens and the “Open” sign were designed by Jeanine Kirkland, a local graphics designer.
The store is open every other Thursday and has 20 employees. This many people are needed because the store has to be set up and torn down each time at ProMexico headquarters. Ten employees arrive at 9 a.m. to set up the store, which opens at 10 a.m. The first shift works until 11 a.m., when another ten-person team comes in, finishing at 12:30 p.m.
Each employee has an assigned job. There is a jefa (boss) for each shift, a cashier and several pricers. All those working in the store earn tokens.
According to the founders of the program, the employees have gotten so good at their jobs that, in time, the store will be turned over completely to Mexican residents, with expatriate volunteers only soliciting donations.
The store stocks a variety of items: basic food needs (beans and rice), canned goods, household items (sheets, towels, blankets), small appliances, toys, shoes and clothes for all ages.
Donations are received from Lake Chapala area expatriates, as well as a neighborhood in Austin, Texas.
To encourage greater community pride and self-improvement, volunteers participating in the initiative are constantly seeking additional ways to get tokens into the community.
Silberberg is working on a project that will see some San Juan Cosala residents help out at Anita’s Animals. The “employees” will help Anita with feeding, bathing and walking her animals.
Meanwhile, Trueblood is working on a program to identify the elderly and disabled in the village and “employ” locals to help with their needs.
Brown is getting sewing classes started to teach some local ladies to make uniforms. This will not only provide them with extra money but benefit the community by providing uniforms at a reduced price.
All these projects will include the earning of tokens.
To learn more about the Token Store in San Juan Cosala, visit http://magicaltokenstore.weebly.com. Donations of items are essential to keep the store stocked, and funds are always welcomed. To donate click on the button on the website under “More.”
There is a drop-off location in Ajijic for items. Melody Peterson will receive donations at her home at Nicolas Bravo 27B (Casita La Rumorosa) in Ajijic. Drop off donations on Fridays before noon.