Merry Christmas from Women to Women Fashion Show
Tara A. Spears
Kindness abounds in small town Mexico with several organizations providing toys and candy for area children. For the seventh year, Women to Women Fashion Show group has provided a week’s food to low income families. Fashion Show provides daily breakfast for 50 students who would otherwise be hungry when school is not in session. With the help of Fashion Show volunteers, the holiday season became a little brighter for these Jaltemba Bay secondario (middle grades) students and their families.
According to the Mexican office of Statistics, “as of 2013, Mexico’s government estimates that 33% of Mexico’s population lives in moderate poverty and 9% lives in extreme poverty, which leads to 42% of Mexico’s total population living below the national poverty line.” Within our little paradise by the sea there is a sizable portion that needs help.
A group of volunteers under the guidance of Fashion Show committee member, Gayle Marshall and her husband Bruce did the preparation of the gift bags. This year the Christmas gift was composed of three bags: one bag of dry goods, such as rice, beans, lentils, oatmeal, tuna, dry milk etc. Another bag contained fresh vegetables and a bag of oranges. The third bag contained laundry soap, toothpaste and some Christmas Candies as a treat!
The school counselor/teacher, Mr. Orzoll, together with the principal, identifies the families that need assistance.
On December 18th, Bruce and Gayle Marshall delivered the food bags to the school in La Penita. Gayle said, “The families had been notified to bring a vehicle or to make some arrangement for getting the heavy bags home. This was the last day of school and parents were to come for a school party. I was so touched by how excited the kids and parents were to receive the bags!”
Providing food for 50 families is but one of the Fashion Show initiatives. The Women to Women committee is delighted that this gift can make a better holiday for so many families. This is just one example of how the afternoon event of fun, food, and fashion benefits the community all year long.
Visit our updated website to learn more. You can select the Donate tab and become a sponsor- it’s that easy! Not only does Women to Women assist local textile designers and clothing shops, our group sends 29 young women to university and helps feed the hungry. Thank you for supporting our community activities! www.mujeresamujeres.com 
Seasons Greetings to All from the Fashion Show Committee