This blogspot presents a brief look at some of the goings on around the Kitchens and projects, as well as some information on the problems of the Valley of Jicamarca. Thankfully, at the moment things have settled down a bit, but we invite people to continue to pray that peace and justice may prevail in the lives of these people. We would like to especially mention in this edition the wonderful support we have recently recieved through the schools and the parish of Mildura. An overwhelming effort, and the result of so much work and generosity.
Fr. Michael McKinnon
28th December 2009
Lucia Cuentas, the Parish Social Worker, and coordinator of The Shared Table project within the Parish would like to sincerely thank all our supporters for their tremendous generosity over four and a half years. "Your kindness has brought relief and hope to so many young, struggling families in this part of Lima. We sincerely wish God's blessings upon you all, and we pray that the coming year of 2010 will be one of great joy for you all."
Teresa the parish nurse and Jenni who both work with Lucia Cuentas in the Parish Community Centre, sort through donations from Caritas Peru which will be distributed among the poorest of the families associated with The Shared Table.
Women from the various Children's Kitchens participate in the annual evaluation of their work before Christmas. Thanks to Lucia Cuentas, the daily running of the Kitchens is closely monitored.
A happy team at work in the Kitchen of El Trebol.
The foundations are dug for the commencement of the small preparation area for the Baking Workshop which has been in operation for 18 months. Thanks to the Terang Branch of the Knights of the Southern Cross, PFD FOOD SERVICES Pty Ltd, and to the wonderful contribution made by schools and groups from the Parish of Mildura, Victoria, by the end of January the Workshop will operate from its own site, enabling the project to invite even more women to participate and to benefit.
Bernie and Geraldine Gartland from near Colac, Victoria, recently spent some days in the Parish. They generously offered some time to assist Andrés with some weeding in the Vegetable Garden which has produced prolific quantaties of vegies this year.