Help a community during COVID-19

  • US$4,180.00
    raised of $2,000.00 goal goal
209% Funded
55 Donors
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Eng.

I am just one person, trying to help families that I have grown to love and respect dearly, during the terrible crisis that COVID-19 is today. As many of you know, when the pandemic struck, I was working as a teaching assistant among different rural and indigenous communities, especially the Ipetí Emberá indigenous community, of my dear country, Panama. During that time, I ate, slept, learned and played among these families and their children, and I can say with a full and honest heart, that these are some of the strongest, most knowledgeable, creative and compassionate people I have ever had the opportunity of knowing. When I left the Ipetí-Emberá community when the COVID crisis started, I didn't realize that this could be a "goodbye", and I left a part of my heart with these families.

COVID-19 forgives no one. The increased pressures on food security and the accessibility to basic products during the lockdown, as well as the tourism inactivity in the community, are endangering their well-being. These are some of the most difficult times we have ever faced, yet I find hope in knowing our capacity to bring about change if we work together for others in greater need.

This initiative started with the goal of assisting the Ipetí-Emberá community during these difficult times, by raising funds for products of basic need, now including: Rice, lentils, beans, and soap. While food products are greatly needed regardless of governmental support which is helpful yet has been recognized as insufficient, soap would promote and enable handwashing as a prevention to COVID-19 rapid spread. However, with the wonderful support of so many caring people, we have been able to reach and surpass every target, allowing us to also include one second-hand sewing machine and fabric for the community to make their own washable and reusable COVID-19 masks. This would be a cost-effective and much needed alternative and empowerment to increase the community's protection and could become a means to create income with the selling of masks during and after COVID-19.

Additionally, thanks to this incredible gesture of generosity, we might now even be able to provide support to more communities, which are also facing difficult times. Therefore, our initial goal to assist the community of Ipetí has now extended to reaching over 500 families, including the communities of Ipetí, Curtí, and Piriatí. With additional support, this could become a reality!

I stand here as your friend, family member and as a friend of these communities, asking you to be the change, and help me provide some support for a cause that can make the difference for people that are much in need.

I thank you dearly for reading and helping to make a difference during these difficult times. The donations will be open until June 30, 2020.


Your friend,


Nicole

__________________________________________________________________

Esp.

Solo soy una persona, tratando de ayudar a las familias que he llegado a querer y respetar mucho, durante la terrible crisis del COVID-19. Como muchos de ustedes saben, cuando ocurrió la pandemia, estaba trabajando como asistente a profesores entre diferentes comunidades rurales e indígenas, especialmente la comunidad indígena Ipetí Emberá, de mi querido país, Panamá. Durante ese tiempo, comí, dormí, aprendí y jugué entre estas familias y sus hijos, y puedo decir con un corazón lleno y sincero que estas son algunas de las personas más fuertes, conocedoras, creativas y compasivas que he tenido la oportunidad de conocer. Cuando dejé la comunidad Ipetí-Emberá al empiezo de la pandemia, no me di cuenta de que esto podría ser un "adiós", y dejé una parte de mi corazón con estas familias.

COVID-19 no perdona a nadie. El aumento de las presiones sobre la seguridad alimentaria y la accesibilidad a los productos básicos durante la cuarentena, así como la inactividad turística en la comunidad, están poniendo en peligro su salud y bienestar. Estos son algunos de los momentos más difíciles que hemos enfrentado, sin embargo, encuentro esperanza en nuestra capacidad de lograr cambios si trabajamos juntos por los que más lo necesitan.

Esta iniciativa comenzó con el objetivo de ayudar a la comunidad Ipetí-Emberá durante estos tiempos difíciles, recaudando fondos para productos de necesidad básica, que ahora incluyen: Arroz, lentejas, porotos y jabón. Si bien los productos alimenticios son muy necesarios, independientemente del apoyo gubernamental que es útil pero reconocido como insuficiente, el jabón promovería el lavado de manos como prevención a la rápida propagación del COVID-19. Sin embargo, con el maravilloso apoyo de tantas increíbles personas, hemos podido alcanzar y superar todos los objetivos, permitiéndonos también incluir una máquina de coser de segunda mano y tela para que la comunidad haga sus propias máscaras COVID-19 lavables y reutilizables. Esta sería una alternativa rentable y muy necesaria para aumentar la protección de la comunidad y podría convertirse en un medio para generar ingresos y empoderamiento con la venta de mascarillas durante y después del COVID-19.

Además, gracias a este increíble gesto de generosidad, ahora podríamos incluso brindar apoyo a más comunidades, que también se enfrentan a tiempos muy difíciles. Por lo tanto, nuestro objetivo inicial de ayudar a la comunidad de Ipetí se ha extendido para cubrir a más de 500 familias, incluyendo a las comunidades de Ipetí, Curtí, y Piriatí. ¡Con apoyo adicional, esto podría hacerse realidad!

Estoy aquí como su amiga, familiar y amiga de estas comunidades, pidiéndoles que sean el cambio y que me ayude a brindar algún apoyo para una causa que puede marcar la diferencia para están comunidades que enfrentan grandes dificultades.

Les agradezco mucho por leer y ayudar a marcar la diferencia durante estos tiempos difíciles. Las donaciones estarán abiertas hasta el 30 de junio de 2020.


Su amiga,


Nicole


Organizer

  • Nicole Meier Alegre
  •  
  • Campaign Owner

Donors

  • Stef
  • Donated on Jun 30, 2020
  • Great Work Nikki!! So proud of your initiative!

$20.00
  • zev flman
  • Donated on Jun 30, 2020
$1.00
$5.00
Jun 11

Fundraising open for more time! :)

Update posted by Nicole Meier Alegre at 05:23 pm

Hi everyone, I received some requests to leave the fundraising for a longer amount of time to receive some additional donations. For this reason, the fundraising will be extended until the end of the month to achieve two date targets. In order to alleviate food and sanitizing products needs as. . . . .

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0
Jun 08

Reaching Target 3!!!!

Update posted by Nicole Meier Alegre at 09:14 pm

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the unstoppable human spirit that we demonstrate through your support! We have reached 2 impressive milestones, and are close to reaching a third one for the well-being of an entire community of 170 families. THANK YOU so much for making this possible, without you,

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0
Jun 08

We reached target 1 !!! Thank you so much for your support!

Update posted by Nicole Meier Alegre at 04:36 pm

Huge act of generosity! THANK YOU SO MUCH, we reached target 1 together today!!! Thanks to your support, the Ipeti Embera community will have access to bags of rice and lentils!! If we manage to reach target 2 (US$ 1500), we will be able to provide the community with rice,. . . . .

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0

Donors & Comments

55 donors
  • Stef
  • Donated on Jun 30, 2020
  • Great Work Nikki!! So proud of your initiative!

$20.00
  • zev flman
  • Donated on Jun 30, 2020
$1.00
$5.00
  • Rachael
  • Donated on Jun 15, 2020
$20.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Jun 15, 2020
  • Good luck with the campaign!

Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Jun 15, 2020
  • Hola Nicole, recibí tu correo en el listserv de BESS. Te felicito por la gran iniciativa y espero que puedas seguir ayudando a más familias Ipetí, Curtí, Piriatí and Majé durante la pandemia. Sinceramente, Victoria

Amount Hidden
  • Holly C.
  • Donated on Jun 14, 2020
$50.00
  • Janay Fox
  • Donated on Jun 14, 2020
Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Jun 12, 2020
$20.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Jun 11, 2020
  • We are all one

Amount Hidden
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US$4,180.00
raised of $2,000.00 goal
209% Funded
55 Donors