Desks for Puerto Vallarta School

Proposed desk pictured above

My name is Lonny Lemon, and I am a Superintendent of Schools in the NW Chicago Suburbs.  For the past 6 years, my custodial staff (many who were born in Mexico) and I have been collecting discarded pencils off of the floor each day and delivering them to an elementary school in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Over the past 5 years, we have collected over 19,000 pencils!  I normally deliver them over Christmas/Spring Break. The students aren't in session, so I'd never met them.  We always put a note with the pencils, describing who we are, and throw them into the covered courtyard.  For the first time ever last March, the students were in session when we arrived, so I was able to finally go inside and meet them.  What I witnessed broke my heart.  The students have NOTHING.  The floor is unpainted concrete, there are no bookshelves, the teachers have no supplies.  The desks (pictured) are all horrifically worn and damaged.  There aren't any in decent shape.  I would like to replace them, if possible. Twenty years ago,  I met and befriended a local Mexican family who run a small flea market business next door. They have become my "Mexican Family."  They are assisting me.  The school has 800 students. They run two shifts of 400 each day.  Hence, they need 400 new desks.  "Archie," my 26 year old friend, is working with the local manufacturers on my behalf. The cost for a new desk, shipping, and tax is approximately $90 US.   Thus, my goal is to raise about $25,000.  I would take the money and purchase them in Puerto Vallarta, which would also greatly help their economy.  There simply isn't a cost efficient way to purchase them in the USA and have them shipped.  I would hope that you would consider helping me replace these desks.  Our schools here have so much to be thankful for, these students go crazy with excitement when they receive pencils. I can't imagine the joy they would receive if they got new desks.  I was able to speak with the principal when I visited Vallarta the last week in March.  School starts in late August, so I will order as many desks as I have funds for in May, so they arrive for the start of school.  He is keeping the desk purchase a surprise for the students.

Please feel free to share this plea with all of your friends. Any size donation will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!