Hearts In Motion (H.I.M.)
The mission of Hearts In Motion is to provide care and medical treatment for children, families, and communities through its programs and sponsorships in the U.S., and Central and South America.
Many of their programs and projects are located in the department of Zapaca, Guatemala.
Kathy Janisch, a volunteer coordinator for Hearts In Motion (HIM), has set up an outreach location at her residence in Mukwonago.
Kathy collects donations, stores them in her garage and then ships them to the HIM headquarters in Gualan, Zapaca, Guatemala.
She collects donations of clothing, shoes, athletic equipment, household items, personal care items, medical equipment and supplies, vitamins, firefighter equipment and much, much more.
H.I.M. offers numerous ways for LAAF members to give back through donations of time, cash gifts, and supplies.
Please see our special Hearts In Motion page for more information on how you can help out!
Ongoing Projects
Guadalupe Homes
Opened in 1985 during the civil war Guadalupe Homes Orphanage welcomed many children who had experienced loss and trauma.
Since then, other orphaned and abandoned children have come.
The orphanage is located in Santa Apolonia, Guatemala and is run by the School Sisters of St. Francis.
Presently over 80 children live in each of six simple homes with foster mothers called "tias."
The ages of the children vary from newborn to teens, including several new babies.
Recently, the homes refurbished and housing stability has returned.
Children attend the town school up to the 9th grade; some continue their education in the city or neighboring towns.
All of the children learn a vocational skill, such as carpentry, shoemaking, tailoring, thus helping provide for the needs at the orphanage, as well as preparing for their own future as independent adults.
It doesn't take much to make a difference - $20/month for each child covers the cost of their school expense, $30/month for each child provides food and housing.
For a look inside the faces at Guadalupe Homes, visit www.loshogareseningles.blogspot.com; for the Spanish version, visit www.loshogares.blogspot.com.
For more information about Guadalupe Homes, please contact
Sr. Marietta Hanus.
Sr. Marietta Hanus
School Sisters of St. Francis
1501 S. Layton Blvd.
Milwaukee, WI 53215
Sr. Marietta Hanus
Familias Unidas Liaison
GivingBack@laafwi.org
Also,
To see how LAAF members have supported Guadalupe Homes, check out our Past Projects below.
Past Projects
Mayan Families--"Bucks for Clucks" Spring 2010
Our fundraiser to benefit the Chicken Program at Mayan Familes was a great success!
$700.00 was raised and we were able to donate 175 chicks to needy families in Guatemala.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this giving back project!
To learn more about the Chicken Program and Mayan Families, visit http://www.mayanfamilies.org/Chickens.
In a recent E-mail, Sharon Smart Poage founder of Mayan Families states, "Thank you so much!!! This is wonderful. The families that receive these chicks will be so thrilled!!!"
LAAF-WI, Inc. and its members support Hearts in Motion, Inc.
At LAAF's 2010 celebration of Three Kings' Day, the Giving Back committee promoted a toy drive for Hearts in Motion.
Hearts in Motion provides care and medical treatment for children, families, and communities through its programs and sponsorships in the U.S., and Central and South America.
Many of their programs and projects are located in the department of Zapaca, Guatemala.
Kathy Janisch, a local Mukwonago resident and volunteer coordinator for Hearts in Motion (HIM), attended the event and gave a brief discussion of HIM and her volunteer efforts.
The Giving Back Committee is happy to report that 187 gently used and new toys were donated.
These toys will be used by the children who receive services at one of the many Hearts in Motion facilities.
In addition, $68.00 was collected and the money was used to buy a tricycle and scooter for children to use at their nutrition and day care center.
Thanks to everyone who generously donated to this project.
In a recent E-mail to a Giving Back Committee member, Kathy Janisch wrote:
"I just got back from guate this morning. The toys were a huge hit! Again, a million thanks..... those kids' smiles say it all."
To learn more about Hearts in Motion visit: www.heartsinmotion.org or contact Kathy Janisch at 262-490-7009
Common Hope Back-to-School Supply Drive 2009
Joan, an executive board member for Common Hope, loads donations brought to Fiesta.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Common Hope school supply drive this September at Fiesta.
The students in Guatemala will have a wonderful back-to-school experience with the many supplies we collected.
In addition, we collected $25 in cash donation which was used to purchase 25 watercolor sets.
The final donation totals were:
- 333 red pens
- 851 blue pens
- 785 black pens
- 1319 pencils
- 141 colored pencil sets
- 227 erasers
- 127 pencil sharpeners
- 70 watercolor sets
- 136 scissors
- 295 rulers
- 94 protractors
- 52 compasses
- 82 calculators
We also collected: 39 crayon sets, 30 glue sticks, 5 glue bottles, 185 pencil cap erasers, 12 folders, 21 highlighters, and 8 marker sets.
We were thrilled to have Joan Uselmann represent Common Hope at the Fiesta.
She spoke with many LAAF members about the great work Common Hope does and then graciously packed up our donations to take with her to the next board meeting in Minneapolis.
LAAF-WI, Inc. and its members support the La Pedrera School Project
The Giving Back committee promoted a fundraising event for the La Pedrera School Project.
La Pedrera is an indigenous Mayan school in the western highlands of Guatemala.
The school is sponsored by Casa Xelaju, a Spanish language school in Quetzaltenago.
Tuition for one elementary student at La Pedrera is $250.00 a year.
The fee covers: registration, supplies, textbooks, uniforms for school and sports, two pairs of shoes and medical care.
The Giving Back Committee is happy to report that we raised $252.00 between David Thomas' presentation, Guatemala: Living and Volunteering in a Land of Color and Contrasts and the Tortilla Making event.
A big thanks to everyone who generously donated to this project.
Also, thank you to LAAF-WI, Inc. who matched this donation with $250.00.
Together we raised enough money to sponsor the education for two children.
Updates and pictures of our sponsored children will be posted through this website under ongoing projects.
In an E-mail, David Thomas wrote:
"A big THANK YOU to LAAF-WI, Inc.! I really enjoy talking about my experiences and to get the money for La Pedrera is an awesome bonus."
To learn more about La Pedrera visit http://www.lapedreraschoolproject.com/index.html.
To learn more about Casa Xelaju, the language school, visit http://www.casaxelaju.com.
Click on community project for their connection with La Pedrera.
Mayan Families--"Bucks for Clucks" Spring 2009
Our fundraiser to benefit the Chicken Program at Mayan Familes was a great success!
$539.20 was raised and we were able to donate more than 150 chicks to needy families in Guatemala.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this giving back project!
In an e-mail, Sharon at Mayan Families wrote, "Thank you , thank you, your help and support makes such a difference!"
To learn more about the Chicken Program and Mayan Families, visit http://www.mayanfamilies.org/Chickens.
Mayan Families - Tamale Baskets 2008
Thank you to the families that participated in this Giving Back project.
Six families participated purchasing a total of 6.5 baskets.
Guadalupe Homes Donation Drive (Fall 2008)
5 bags of donations for the Guadalupe Homes Orphanage were collected at the Day of the Dead celebration.
This was added to what was previously collected by the Frinzi family.
They boxed everything up and will be sending 16 boxes of wonderful household items to Guadalupe Homes Orphanage (coffee pots, iron, glasses, towels, rugs, blankets, sheets, undergarments, CD players and many, many toiletries).
Thank you to everyone who gave!
Common Hope July 2008 Supply Drive
Thanks to many generous donations, our supply drive for Common Hope (www.commonhope.org) was a great success!
The donations were packed up and driven to Minneapolis by the Stuart family and will be sorted and shipped to Guatemala soon!
Along with their family and friends, seven LAAF families donated an amazing grand total of 2,343 items!
Donations included:
- 187 tubes of toothpaste
- 480 tubes of personal-size toothpaste
- 520 toothbrushes
- 540 bars of soap
- 123 wash cloths
- 149 hand towels
- 5 bath towels
- 9 bottles of shampoo
- 50 pocket folders
- 20 colored pencil sets (12 count)
- 204 boxes of snack-size Ziploc bags
- 2 tubs of antibacterial wipes
- 33 travel soaps
- 4 travel bath gels
- 5 travel shampoos
- 4 travel conditioners
- 5 travel lotions
- 3 travel deodorants
In a thank you letter, Andrew Allen wrote, "Thank you for the huge donation of hygiene items and school supplies.
You've helped so much.
We all are extremely grateful and look forward to hearing from you again.
Thanks a million times over!"
Mayan Families-Mother's Day Baskets 2008
Thank you to the families that participated in this giving back project.
Four families participated purchasing a total of 7 baskets.
Mayan Families has an article you can read about the distribution of the baskets by going to the following address:
http://mffoodandmilk.wordpress.com/2008/05/page/15/.
Over 95 baskets were delivered to mothers in San Jorge. |
The mother of a LAAF member's sponsored student receives her basket. |
2008 Charity Rummage Sale for Hearts In Motion
Through the generous donation of items from the membership, the Stillmank Family hosted a three-day rummage sale in May 2008 to benefit Hearts In Motion (HIM).
Volunteers worked to set up and man the sale.
The Kowalczyk Family delivered left-over rummage items to Kathy Janisch of Hearts In Motion.
These items were shipped to the HIM thrift store where they were sorted and shipped to Guatemala.
Items not shipped are sold at the thrift store.
Thrift store proceeds benefit HIM projects in Guatemala.
Everyone's efforts allowed us to donate just over $1,000 to the organization!
In a Thank You letter, Karen Scheeringa-Parra, Executive Director for HIM, wrote, "We know that working together can touch our own hearts and lives with as much joy as it brings to others.
People like you are the hearts we speak of - Hearts In Motion!"
Visit our special Hearts In Motion page for more information.
2005 Rummage Sale to Benefit Guadalupe Homes Orphanage a Huge Success!
With a lot of help from our family, friends, neighbors and LAAF members, $1,200 was raised at the rummage sale hosted by the Stillmank Family!
It is our hope other families will be inspired to do the same in the years to come.
All proceeds were donated to the Guadalupe Homes #2 and #7 (the houses LAAF-WI partners with) through the Familias Unidas project with the School Sisters of St. Francis.
What a blessing you are to us!
Thank you for your generous contribution of $1,200.00 for the children at Guadalupe Homes, especially for houses 2 and 7.
With the many needs at the orphanage for food, clothing, education, medical and psychological services, etc, your support is a Godsend.
On behalf of the 87 children, staff and sisters at Los Hogares, Muchas Gracias, that means thank you!
– Esperanza Magana-Smith, Special Appeals Coordinator, School Sisters of St. Francis.
Notice: We do our best to offer legitimate giving back opportunities to our membership.
Please be aware that our promotion of such opportunities for organizations/charities does not imply our endorsement.
Before sponsoring a program or project, please take care to research it yourself.
*Notice -- Some of our members choose to support charitable organizations with religious and/or political affiliations, but LAAF-WI does not endorse any religious and/or political activities, viewpoints or advocacy.
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