GREATER TAMARINDO FOOD BANK & COMMUNITY GARDEN
Donation protected
== END OF THE COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT ==
It's with great regret that I inform this group that we've come to a dead end with the community garden project, which puts an end to this group's purpose.
After several months of dedicated work, efforts and financial commitment, we were informed that we were denied access to the neighboring well managed by ASADA, after getting their verbal approval months ago. No water, no garden, end of story.
This terrible news came unexpected and I was personally floored. We have been vandalized and robbed several times, but we kept going. This time we've hit a wall we can't overcome. The authorities don't seem to support our vision to support local communties and I won't engage in this battle.
So I'd like to thank all the donors and volunteers who took part of this. We've helped a lot of families and made a difference during these crazy times. Thank you!
I am officially terminating the activities of this group. It's been a pleasure working with you all, and I'm thankful for all the new friendships and connections that were born over the last 9 months.
== TRANSITIONING TO SUSTAINABLE MODE WITH A COMMUNITY GARDEN ==
After 6 months of operating in assistance mode and distributing food baskets and meals on a daily basis to over 1000 families, we are now transitioning to a sustainable mode so we can continue supporting our community for years to come. Our plan is to create a large organic community garden (2.5 hectares or about 5 acres), which will enable us to create local jobs that don't rely on tourism, provide education on healthy agriculture and produce negative carbon footprint food. We need your financial help to get this project started as we need to build infrastructure, an irrigation system for the dry season, seeds, tools etc.
== JUNE TRANSPARENCY REPORT ==
== FIVE DOLLAR FRIDAY CHALLENGE 05/01 ==
== STORY UPDATE 2020-04-22 ==
In order to be able to withdraw the funds raised in this campaign, we needed to provide a US Social Security Number, which me, Ben Desjardins, don't have because I'm Canadian.
Ashton Brown, a good friend of mine and volunteer at the Greater Tamarindo Food Bank from its inception, and which I'd trust with my life, offered to act as a proxy and provide his SSN so GoFundMe could transfer the funds to his US bank account. Ashton lives in Costa Rica with his wife.
As soon as Ashton receives the funds, he will transfer them to my US-based business bank account, at Bank of America.
All wholesale purchases of food and household staples will be made from my business bank account.
GoFundMe requested this update to our campaign's story for transparency in order to accelerate the release of the funds.
===================================
Help those who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 crisis and their families in the greater Tamarindo area, and receive 2 CRMMH bracelets with your donation of $50 or more.
===> Claim Your Bracelets Here After Making Your Donation <===
With your donation, we will coordinate efforts to safely supply food items and cooked meals, essential household items and find other ways to help those in need.
We work with other groups who have already databases of verified families going through hardships.
So many workers living paycheck to paycheck are left without a job and going through hardships. Think of waiters, bartenders, cleaning & maintenance personnel, construction workers, clerks, cooks, etc.
As a community, we want to help and show them no one is left behind.
Instead of everyone trying to help on their own way, we now have a hub to be organized.
These are the main objectives:
1. Find people and businesses willing to help, and those who need help in the following communities: Flamingo, Potrero, Brasilito, Huacas, Santa Rosa, Villareal, Tamarindo, Langosta, Pinilla, Avellana, and maybe more to come.
2. Identify what kind of donations are needed and facilitate the collection of said donations (food and household items, money) and distribution in the safest way.
3. Set up and manage drop off and pick up locations in every area.
4. Organize preparation and delivery of free meals with the help of restaurant owners.
5. Coordinate collections and deliveries so prevent anyone being in contact with anyone, at all times.
6. Leverage the community and networks to raise awareness about this initiative and maximize its effectiveness.
Thank you for being part of the solution and helping us to deploy a structure to maximize our impact and leverage the community.
1. Join our Community on Facebook
2. Complete this Questionnaire and Tell Us How Else You Can Help (Food Donations, Volunteering, etc.)
Thank you for your help, and stay healthy!
- Ben
P.S. I'm not from Des Moines, Iowa. Apparently the zip code there is the same as Tamarindo, Costa Rica, where we operate from. As for myself, I'm from Montreal, Canada :)
It's with great regret that I inform this group that we've come to a dead end with the community garden project, which puts an end to this group's purpose.
After several months of dedicated work, efforts and financial commitment, we were informed that we were denied access to the neighboring well managed by ASADA, after getting their verbal approval months ago. No water, no garden, end of story.
This terrible news came unexpected and I was personally floored. We have been vandalized and robbed several times, but we kept going. This time we've hit a wall we can't overcome. The authorities don't seem to support our vision to support local communties and I won't engage in this battle.
So I'd like to thank all the donors and volunteers who took part of this. We've helped a lot of families and made a difference during these crazy times. Thank you!
I am officially terminating the activities of this group. It's been a pleasure working with you all, and I'm thankful for all the new friendships and connections that were born over the last 9 months.
== TRANSITIONING TO SUSTAINABLE MODE WITH A COMMUNITY GARDEN ==
After 6 months of operating in assistance mode and distributing food baskets and meals on a daily basis to over 1000 families, we are now transitioning to a sustainable mode so we can continue supporting our community for years to come. Our plan is to create a large organic community garden (2.5 hectares or about 5 acres), which will enable us to create local jobs that don't rely on tourism, provide education on healthy agriculture and produce negative carbon footprint food. We need your financial help to get this project started as we need to build infrastructure, an irrigation system for the dry season, seeds, tools etc.
== JUNE TRANSPARENCY REPORT ==
== FIVE DOLLAR FRIDAY CHALLENGE 05/01 ==
== STORY UPDATE 2020-04-22 ==
In order to be able to withdraw the funds raised in this campaign, we needed to provide a US Social Security Number, which me, Ben Desjardins, don't have because I'm Canadian.
Ashton Brown, a good friend of mine and volunteer at the Greater Tamarindo Food Bank from its inception, and which I'd trust with my life, offered to act as a proxy and provide his SSN so GoFundMe could transfer the funds to his US bank account. Ashton lives in Costa Rica with his wife.
As soon as Ashton receives the funds, he will transfer them to my US-based business bank account, at Bank of America.
All wholesale purchases of food and household staples will be made from my business bank account.
GoFundMe requested this update to our campaign's story for transparency in order to accelerate the release of the funds.
===================================
Help those who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 crisis and their families in the greater Tamarindo area, and receive 2 CRMMH bracelets with your donation of $50 or more.
===> Claim Your Bracelets Here After Making Your Donation <===
With your donation, we will coordinate efforts to safely supply food items and cooked meals, essential household items and find other ways to help those in need.
We work with other groups who have already databases of verified families going through hardships.
So many workers living paycheck to paycheck are left without a job and going through hardships. Think of waiters, bartenders, cleaning & maintenance personnel, construction workers, clerks, cooks, etc.
As a community, we want to help and show them no one is left behind.
Instead of everyone trying to help on their own way, we now have a hub to be organized.
These are the main objectives:
1. Find people and businesses willing to help, and those who need help in the following communities: Flamingo, Potrero, Brasilito, Huacas, Santa Rosa, Villareal, Tamarindo, Langosta, Pinilla, Avellana, and maybe more to come.
2. Identify what kind of donations are needed and facilitate the collection of said donations (food and household items, money) and distribution in the safest way.
3. Set up and manage drop off and pick up locations in every area.
4. Organize preparation and delivery of free meals with the help of restaurant owners.
5. Coordinate collections and deliveries so prevent anyone being in contact with anyone, at all times.
6. Leverage the community and networks to raise awareness about this initiative and maximize its effectiveness.
Thank you for being part of the solution and helping us to deploy a structure to maximize our impact and leverage the community.
1. Join our Community on Facebook
2. Complete this Questionnaire and Tell Us How Else You Can Help (Food Donations, Volunteering, etc.)
Thank you for your help, and stay healthy!
- Ben
P.S. I'm not from Des Moines, Iowa. Apparently the zip code there is the same as Tamarindo, Costa Rica, where we operate from. As for myself, I'm from Montreal, Canada :)
Organizer and beneficiary
Benoit Desjardins
Organizer
Des Moines, IA
Ashton Brown
Beneficiary