Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico

Who and What we are:

Mexico Donations is a small group of friends who have seen some of the needs in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico first hand. I live in Puerto Vallarta all year and a couple of years ago we adopted a pet project to provide the necessities of day to day life for the Refugio Kids Orphanage here in Puerto Vallarta. REFUGIO INFANTIL SANTA ESPERANZA (Children’s Shelter of Hope) or R.I.S.E.,

Though there are many needs here in Mexico… this is one small way we feel we can make difference and pay back some of the fantastic hospitality we are afforded here in Puerto Vallarta by the local Mexican people.

Our method and goal is real simple. Take all the cash we can raise and make sure it goes direct to the table without any middleman expenses. Everyone involved todate has paid their own gas and vehicle expenses for this cause.
With our small organization there are no tax deductions, no fancy formal clubs or meetings, just a genuine will from the heart to help.

During the winter months we personally went to the Orphanage every Thursday, asked the Madre for a shopping list of needed items and tried to fulfill the full list each week. It is very interesting to find that the most basic items, items we all take for granted, are needed the most.

We managed to average approximately $2000 pesos per week during the winter season of 2004/2005. Some weeks were up to $3500 pesos.

Some non-food items purchased in the last while include Bleach, Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener, Anti-Bacterial Hand Soap, Baby Diapers, Anti-Rash Baby Lotion, Talcum Powder and Shampoo.

Food items supplied include wieners, ham, bananas, nectarines, oranges, limes, carrots, potatoes, hamburger meat, cheese and bread.

We have also managed to supply a long list of medicines including, anti-biotics for both adults and children, cremes, ointments and bandages. See the photo album link below for receipts of some of the purchases.

It is simply amazing how much these items are needed and appreciated.

We have also identified a real problem with donations here in Puerto Vallarta. Donations and gifts run freely during the high tourist season, however once many of us snowbirds go back “home” in spring, the donations dry up and once more they have to subsist on beans and rice till the next winter when, hopefully, we will all return with open pockets.

To this end we have created the Mexico Donations website.

We will provide references of both ourselves and others involved if you like.

If you would like to volunteer or help in any way please contact us.

Please email us at donations@mexicodonations.com for more info.


If you would like more info on the Refugio please check out the Links page below.