Los Barriles Elementary School Cafeteria Project
Posted by Steve Reed on Aug 19, 2016
Over 250 children are enrolled in our Los Barriles elementary school, and the number who rely on school lunches for nourishment fluctuates. The school cafeteria had only a small kitchen, limited seating, a hand washing station that was not always functional, and a shaded play area in disrepair. A sub-contractor provides the food for the children.
In the summer of 2010 Club Rotario de Los Barriles joined a group of local business people who wanted to raise funds to remodel the kitchen and eating area. Progress was slow and donations lagged.
Hurricane Odile hit Southern Baja in September of 2012 and Los Barriles sustained some significant damage. The community and Club Rotario focused on supporting those families impacted most by Odile. Nearly $20,000 USD was raised and many families received the relief they so badly needed. But the school kitchen project was a casualty of a greater need and had to be set aside.
I met Susan and Tim Madden in the summer of 2015, and they introduced me to their nonprofit, Power of One. After learning the details of our cafeteria remodel, they decided to support our project. Power of One held a fundraiser earlier this summer and raised $3,000.00 for our cause.
We met with the school principal, elementary teachers, and the parents club, and we came up with a project scope for remodeling the cafeteria. We hired a local contractor, Carlos and Marta Coscetti, and asked them to create plans for the remodel.
The remodel will include building a larger kitchen area, which will house a larger refrigerator, a more effective stove, and a much bigger kitchen sink. The plans also call for installing a new shaded area, as well as a larger sink for the children’s washing station. The dirt area will be covered in concrete and cement tables will provide additional seating for the children. The current sub-contractor will continue to provide meals for the students, but the preparation and dining will be more efficient.
Our heartfelt thanks to those who donated time, money, or materials, and especially to Power of One ($3,000), the Oakhurst Morning Rotary Club ($1,500) and the Oakhurst Noon Club ($1,500). C and M Construction, along with other local businesses, will fund the additional dollars/pesos needed to complete the project.
A long time coming, but another deed well done, for our community, for our Club.
Thank you all.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Chris Geyer
Past President
Club Rotario, Los Barriles
Chris Geyer
Past President
Club Rotario, Los Barriles