In what counts as a heart-warming, true-life holiday story, an expatriate resident and a local businessman are teaming up to help out a Chapala couple and their four children who lost their home and personal belongings in a December 10 fire caused by an electrical short circuit.
The family fortunately escaped without harm as their one-room shack went up in flames. The woman’s brother, a single dad raising two young daughters, was also forced to abandon his adjacent abode due to smoke and water damage. Both structures were built out of tar paper, plastic tarps and recycled materials.
The humanitarian protagonists are Pat Baxter, founder of lakeside’s Pathways School Sponsorship student aid program, and Juan Manuel Durán, an imports entrepreneur who supports charitable causes through Fundación Dr. Juan Rafael Duran Barajas, named after his late father.
After hearing about the tragedy, Baxter touched base with Duran suggesting that they collaborate on organizing a rescue plan for the fire victims. So far they have collected clothing, food supplies and other goods to get the two families back on their feet. The broader goal is to assist them in planning and funding the construction of modest side-by-side brick and mortar homes. The project will be supported by the Chapala government and private donors.
Durán has previously financed the construction of one-room housing units for a number of impoverished families. Last year he and Baxter paired up to build a little house for two elderly sisters living in a makeshift shelter.
Anyone interested in joining their new cause may contact Baxter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 766-1667 for details.