“Kathleen, my wife and I attended your October Live & Invest in Panama Conference in Panama City and then stayed over at Vista Mar in San Carlos through the end of November.
“We return to Texas next Tuesday, but I wanted to give you something for the children of the Fatima Parish. I have left a check for US$50 with a friend, who has promised to drop it off at your office for me.
“Please see that it gets to the children and thanks again for a great conference. I will probably see you in Belize in February!”
–Mike G., United States
Thanks so much for your contribution to our efforts this season on behalf of the Fatima Parish in Casco Viejo.
Fatima Parish is a Catholic parish, one of the oldest in Panama, that, for decades, has been working with kids growing up in some of the poorest neighborhoods in this city. The Fatima Parish provides daycare services, before- and after-school child-care, job-training for teenagers, meals, and, even, a permanent orphanage.
They receive very little state money and rely almost entirely on private donations.
We asked the priest who runs the parish what he needs most right now, and, unsurprisingly, his response was “everything.” Specifically, though, we know that the orphanage, the daycare, and the before- and after-school groups would benefit greatly from children’s toiletry items (toothpaste, soap, diapers, etc.); children’s clothing; and, given the season, toys that could be distributed as Christmas presents. The children in the care of the parish are between the ages of 1 and 10, both boys and girls.
Throughout the coming holiday season, we’ll have a big box here in our office in the Banesco Building, in Marbella, Panama City, where we’ll be collecting donations for the kids at Fatima Parish.
We’ll have another box at our Live and Invest Overseas registration table during the two days of our Emergency Offshore Summit later this week, where, again, we’ll be collecting any items the Fatima Parish might be able to use.
If you’ll be in town, for the conference or otherwise, perhaps you’d like to bring by a few coloring books, some crayons, or a couple of bottles of shampoo. Very small donations count for a lot in this case.
Also, while we’re on the subject of the coming holiday season, please note that we’re planning a Christmas Open House in our office for readers, expats, and friends, both residents and those who happen to be passing through town.
Snacks, eggnog, and general holiday cheer, on offer Friday, Dec. 10, from 4 to 7 p.m.
All we ask is that, if you’ll be able to stop by, you RSVP in advance (so we can be sure not to run out of eggnog!).
Send an e-mail here to let us know to expect you. We’re looking forward to it.
