 Volunteers play a vital part in the welfare of the Pasitos de Luz and the Refugio. Their presence contributes in a number of tangible and intangible ways.
Foundation Brochure
Visit the Documents Page to view or download
the Foundation's colorful brochure. The current newsletter and other Foundation
documents may also be downloaded.
To Be Involved
To visit or volunteer contact us by telephone or e-mail.
Volunteers make an important difference. Please visit
our Volunteer Page.
Join Our Donors
When you visit the Donors Page you will note that
contributions in any amount are appreciated.
The
CSHF in Action page keeps you informed about the
progress which your donations enable.
 A group from the Pasitos de Luz.
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Current Needs at the Refugio
Saturday, April 19, 2008
1. Tommy Tippy type cups for infants and toddlers - Drinking cups with lids that are plastic and screw on to the cup tightly.
2. Shirts for toddler age children with snaps at the bottom. You find these frequently for children around 1 because of the need to change diapers. We need some for 2, 3, and 4 year olds for using during the summer when it is very hot here.
3. We also need shorts for this age children - about 20 - that could be pulled up over the shirts described above.
4. Towels - not huge bath towels, but some that would be suitable for babies and toddlers.
Msg #41. Expires Monday, May 19, 2008.
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April 30 Wed Banana Cantina Fundraiser
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Please plan to join us in celebrating the Day of the Children on Wednesday, April 30th from 7:00 to 10:00 P.M at Banana Cantina’s Charity Night. The feature charity for this special evening of great food, prizes, and fun is Pasitos de Luz, a marvelous daycare facility for children with special needs which is located in Pitillal.
At no charge to families Pasitos de Luz (PDL) is committed to supporting children with severe disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, consequences of Meningitis, and Microcephaly. PDL provides each of the more than 100 children enrolled with a caring and loving environment, along with treatment for individual rehabilitation, nutritional means, physical stimulation, and therapy daily. In addition PDL provides moral and emotional support to the families of these children, and maintains a high standard of hygiene in an environment where each child can be healthy and happy.
This special charity event at Banana Cantina will be hosted by Chris Amo, President of Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation, and will feature wonderful dining choices from the menu, raffle prizes, auctioning of ten absolutely AMAZING paintings done by the special children at PDL, and much more.
A portion of the food and beverage sales will also be generously donated to PDL by Banana Cantina Restaurant located at 147 Amapas at Pulpito in Romantic Zone. Reservations are necessary. Please call 222-2114 or email Pvbananacantina@aol.com right away to reserve a table.
This is indeed a unique opportunity for you to celebrate Day of the Children on April 30th and help a wonderful and important charity – Pasitos de Luz. See you there!!!
Msg #40. Expires Saturday, May 17, 2008.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Sunday, June 3, 2007
1. HOW CAN WE HELP?
The most important constant need at both the Refugio and Pasitos is MONEY to pay for monthly costs such as food, medicine, staff salaries, utility bills, staff salaries, etc. Since virtually no money is received at either location from the Mexican government ALL of these must be covered by donations. Legal tax deductions are available for US citizens donating through Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation, and Canadian citizens can now also receive tax credits through the new Canadian Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation. If you would prefer instead to donate items, please check the lists here or contact one of us for ideas of current needs.
2. ARE ANY OF THE CHILDREN ADOPTABLE?
Unfortunately, no, not at this time. The Refugio is truly a shelter for children, not an orphanage. Our children all have some connection with family members or are not available due to Mexican regulations. The Mexican government is very protective of family rights and will only release a child for adoption when all family members have been located and sign a paper releasing their rights to this child – a very complicated and expensive process. For more information about this contact Board member, Carmen Berkowitz at carmengalvanpv@msn.com
3. HOW DO WE FIND THE REFUGIO OR PASITOS?
Cabs are probably your best option for getting to either the Refugio or Pasitos. We, unfortunately, are rarely able to pick up visitors unless arrangements are made well in advance and the pick up location is convenient. Directions to the Refugio from the Marina area and from Old Town are listed below in English and in Spanish. Directions to Pasitos from SAM’s Club are also listed in both English and Spanish. There is also a map to the Refugio on our “Documents” page.
FROM THE MARINA AREA TO THE REFUGIO:
Tell the cab driver that you want to go to the Refugio, which is in Colonia Benito Juarez off of the Libramiento (tunnel) street. Go south on the main road toward EL CENTRO. When you have gone past the Office Depot store on the right begin to watch for signs to “Barra de Navidad.” Tell the driver to go left onto the Libramiento (or tunnel street) which will then skirt the main part of the city on the east side. After you have gone quite a ways you will travel through a large tunnel. Just past this you will cross over the Rio Cuale (river) bridge. The next intersection will have a traffic signal (there is an orange house on the left north corner and a bus stop on the left south corner of this intersection). Tell the driver to turn left here, go a short distance to the "T" in the road, turn right and go two short blocks. When you have passed the small church on the left turn left at the next corner and go straight up the steep road to the Refugio, which will be the large white building on the left hand side. The address is actually – Colonia Benito Juarez, R. Flores Magnon #251.
DESDE EL AREA DE LA MARIINA AL REFUGIO:
Dile al conductor del taxi que quieres ir al refugio, el cual esta en la Colonia Benito Juárez saliendo de la calle de Libramiento (túnel). Ve hacia el Sur en la calle principal hacia EL CENTRO. Cunado pase la tienda de Office Depot a la derecha comienza a buscar letreros que digan “Barra de Navidad.” Dile al conductor que se de vuelta a la izquierda en Libramiento (o en la calle del túnel) la cual desemboca ala calle principal en el lado este de la ciudad. Después de manejar un rato atravesaras un túnel largo. Justo pasando esto cruzaras sobre el Río Cuale (Puente del río). En la siguiente intersección veras un semáforo (hay una casa de color naranja en la orilla norte del lado izquierdo y una parada de camión en la orilla izquierda de esta intersección). Dile al conductor que de vuelta a la izquierda ahí, a una distancia corta hay una “T” en el camino, vira a la derecha y cuenta dos cuadras. Pasando la iglesia pequeña en la izquierda vira a la izquierda en la siguiente esquina y sube por la calle hasta encontrar el refugio el cual es un edificio blanco de lado izquierdo. La dirección es – Colonia Benito Juárez, R. Flores Magnon #251.
FROM OLD TOWN AREA TO THE REFUGIO:
Again tell the driver that you want to go to the Refugio in Colonia Benito Juarez, off of the Libramiento (tunnel) street. Go east on Basilio Badillo Street past the road that will take you out toward "Mismaloya" and "Barra de Navidad." Proceed on Basilio Badillo Street, through the small tunnel – the road has now become the Libramiento. Go around a long curve and begin watching for the stoplight on the right-hand side. Proceed from here as per the other directions above. If you cross the Rio Cuale, you have gone too far.
DE VIEJO VALLARTA AL REFUGIO:
Una vez más, dile al conductor que quieres ir al Refugio en la Colonia Benito Juárez saliendo de la calle de Libramiento (túnel). Ve hacia el Este en la calle de Basilio Badillo. Pasando la calle que lleva a "Mismaloya" y a "Barra de Navidad." Procede en la calle de Basilio Badillo, atraviesa el túnel chico –la calle se convierte en Libramiento. Pasa por una curva y comienza a buscar por un semáforo en el lado derecho de la calle. Desde aquí procede como se indica en la dirección de arriba. Si cruzas el Rio Cuale es que ya pasaste la calle.
FROM SAM’S CLUB TO PASITOS:
Turn left off of the main street going into town at the intersection on the south end of the Sam’s Club parking lots and across from where the cruise ships dock. Proceed on this street (Ave. Sanchez) for approximately 1.5 miles, until you come to a large curve that has you going more toward the suburb town of Pitillal. When you get to the intersection of Exiquio Corona Street (large plant nursery on the right), turn left at this intersection. Go at least 10 blocks more until you come to Pasitos – Colonia Bobadilla, Exiquio Corona Street #545.
DE SAM’S CLUB A PASITOS:
Vira a la izquierda en la calle principal hacia Pitillal en la intersección en la esquina sur del estacionamiento de Sam´s Club y cruzando la marina donde los cruceros embarcan. Procede en esta calle (Ave. Sanchez) por aproximadamente 1.5 millas, hasta llegar a una curva grande que lleva mas hacia el pueblo del Pitillal. Cuando llegues a la intersección de las calle de Exiquio Corona (un vivero muy grande en la derecha), vira a la izquierda en esta intersección . Sigue por lo menos 10 cuadras hasta llegas a Pasitos – Colonia Bobadilla, Exiquio Corona Street #545.
4. WHAT ARE THE VISITING HOURS FOR THE REFUGIO AND PASITOS?
Although there are no strict policies for visiting hours at either facility, the following times seem to work best at the Refugio for visiting:
Monday through Friday – mornings from around 11 to 1 (or stay longer if you would like to help with serving lunch), afternoons from around 2 to 5.
Saturdays and Sundays are actually when the most help (volunteers) is needed due to staff members having days off. You may photograph the children and facility, of you like.
Pasitos is a day-center only as these children go home to families in the evenings and weekends. Therefore, it is only possible to visit there on Monday through Friday. Best times there seem to be around 10 to 2. No photographs are allowed at Pasitos due to family privacy issues.
5. WHAT IS CURRENTLY NEEDED BESIDES MONEY?
This is really an important question for you and your friends to ask prior to hauling lots of things down in your luggage or making purchases. Both Sol at the Refugio and Cesar at Pasitos communicate with us regularly about what is most helpful and we try to keep this posted in the “message board” section of our website. We tend to get lots of clothes, shoes, toys, art materials and candy (which ruins the children’s appetites and their teeth – please DO NOT BRING candy). Instead, we usually need such things as diapers, baby-wipes, underwear, socks, towels, laundry soap, and ALWAYS fresh fruits and vegetables. PLEASE check with one of us so that your money and efforts are used effectively.
Msg #26. Expires Thursday, July 3, 2008.
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