Growing from its roots as a modest neighborhood feeding program for disadvantaged children, Love in Action Children’s Home (LIA) has developed into a model for social service organizations that take displaced youngsters under their wings.
Operating for more than a decade out of a run-down housing complex in a low-end Chapala residential area, LIA has recently mustered outside sponsorships to begin upgrading the facilities with the aim of creating a more nurturing, family-like atmosphere where the children and young adults under its care can develop and lead productive lives.
Completion of the first phase of the renovation project was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception held on Saturday, November 22. The event honored patron Geoffrey Kaye, who contributed 15,000 dollars to fully remodel a three-bedroom unit that shelters five young siblings and the couple employed as live-in house parents. After extensive repairs, the once dilapidated building is now an inviting place, with a comfortable living room and dining area, a well-furnished kitchen, and sparkling clean bathroom.
LIA would welcome donations of items needed to complete the furnishings, such as towel bars and a medicine and storage cabinet for the bathroom, a multiple drawer storage bin, two bedroom dressers, a television and tv stand, a bulletin board, additional living room and patio furniture, a microwave oven and some large kitchen cooking pots.
Saturday’s gathering also marked the kick off of the next step in the makeover plan, to be funded with a 23,000-dollar grant lined up by Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club. The work will involve completely refurbishing a second unit currently inhabited by nine teenage girls and their house parents. The building also has a large central space currently used as a multi-purpose community room for diverse activities.
The upgrade will include structural, roof and flooring repairs, improved plumbing and electrical installations, fresh plastering and painting and replacement of worn and damaged doors, windows and bathroom fixtures.
Future plans include fixing up the LIA classroom where kids follow an innovative program specifically crafted for youngsters whose learning abilities have been compromised by the traumas of coming from broken families, suffering physical and mental abuse, or other common troubles experienced by abandoned, orphaned and displaced children.
For additional information visit the website www.loveinactioncenter.org or contact executive director Kari Romey at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..