Milpitas Rotarians and guests were presented with the much anticipated Nicaragua report at their crowded Monday, December 9, 2013 club meeting in Brandon's Restaurant.
A few years ago Milpitas Rotary's International Service team tried to raise about $3,000 for any cause to help out. Norm LaCroix, Alan David, and Darshan Shah found this to be difficult. But after lots of hard work they found matching funds from Rotary plus donations from members and other Rotary Clubs to achieve much more.
It was decided to use the $20,000 they raised to send badly needed medical supplies and equipment to a very poorly equipped maternity hospital in Nicaragua. The 40 foot shipping container filled with surplus medical gear and provisions from MedShare valued at from $150,000 to $300,000 was delivered to hospital staff in Chinandega, Nicaragua earlier this year.
LaCroix and David were on hand there to help get the container through customs with the assistance of The Nicaragua American Foundation. The local Chinandega Rotary Club was also involved with this important program.
During their numerous visits to Nicaragua LaCroix and David saw firsthand just how poor the people are there. Roughly 1,000 Nicaraguans, mostly children, live at the garbage dump foraging for scraps of food and sellable items buried among the disease infested rubble. The two Milpitas Rotarians brought them some fresh meals for lunch on more than one occasion.
