Tres Islas Orphanage Fund
As many of you know, my Mother loved many people. In
return, many people loved her. Still do.
What you may not know is that for years my parents wintered in Mazatlan,
Mexico. They became very involved in the community and started volunteering
with the Tres Islas Orphanage Fund which serves five orphanages in Mazatlan
and 123 children. Mom would "mother" the kids,
bake for them and braid their hair. Dad would bring his toolbox and make
much-needed repairs on the old house where the children lived in Old Town
Mazatlan.
We - Lisa too - would always fly down to Mazatlan and spend a few weeks
visiting with my parents in the winter, so we were also put to work at the
orphanage in Mazatlan (Orfanatorio
Mazatlan). I remember taking trips to the Mazatlan Sam's Club and loading
the cart with food for the children, taking the kids shoe shopping and once
taking the girls bra shopping. (Yes, some of the orphans are teens.) When
my Mom walked in the door to the orphanage - a dozen kids came running, all
clamoring for her attention. I think Lisa and I were a little jealous!
Upon her death, Mom hoped remembrances would be made to the
Tres Islas
Orphanage Fund. This group raises funds for five Mexican orphanages.
Dave and I have often contributed to the fund and know our donations are
used properly and well.
To honor my Mom, the Tres Islas Orphanage Fund has
designated a new account to be used for the purchase of fresh fruits and
vegetables - something my parents often provided, and one thing seriously
lacking in the daily diet of the orphans. This fund will be called
"Gloria's Kitchen". Our family is very proud and grateful to have this fund
established. It would have made Mom so happy!
Here is part of the tribute to my Mother, written by Donelle Manton (orphanage fund
founder)
for the Mazatlan newspaper:
Gloria Geraths –
Friend Extraordinaire
Many of you know lovely Gloria
Geraths who throughout the 1990s was a constant
presence at the orphanages and Donelle’s
“right-hand” in every activity. Gloria successfully
organized the first “Adopt-a-Child-for Christmas” in
Mazatlan that has now grown into each child in every
orphanage receiving wonderful Christmas gifts – when
before Gloria’s presence – most received very little
or nothing at all.
At that time, there were no chocolate chips in
Mazatlan. Gloria quickly endeared herself to the
children when she brought not only the first
homemade cookies they’d ever tasted – but chocolate
chip cookies! Each time Gloria brought cookies, some
of the children happened to be in school. Without
being prompted and on their own, the children at the
orphanage counted the cookies, reserving an equal
amount for those still in school. For those of you
who’ve tasted Gloria’s delicious cookies – that must
have been an awfully difficult thing for a child to
do and took an exceptional amount of self-discipline
to give up even one of Gloria’s cookies! Upon the
school children’s arrival, the children present
scooped-up the box of cookies and fled to the door,
welcoming the others home with the great news about
the arrival of Gloria’s cookies.
Gloria also took her spaghetti maker to the
orphanage and showed the children how to make
spaghetti, then allowing each child to cut their
portion as it came out of the machine. Topped with
homemade sauce and meatballs, the children ate and
ate until their tummies were stuffed. Gloria – and
her trusty spaghetti maker – were requested to come
back often for a repeat version!
Over the years, Gloria and her good husband Lloyd
took the children to purchase needed shoes and
always stopped for ice cream on the way back – what
a treat for the children! Gloria and Lloyd helped
organize the first and helped host many barbecue
beach parties for the children from Orfanatorio
Mazatlan and Ciudad de los Ninos – over 60 children!
And each week, Gloria and Donelle shopped for the
children’s food. They were a constant team, dear
friends and family in the heart. Those were joyous
years in which precious friendships between
countries and people – both big and small – were
forged that are now forever etched in the memories
of our minds and will remain dear to us all.
Gloria
Geraths brought love, grace, confidence and success
to everything she did on behalf of the children and
the Tres Islas Orphanage Fund.
If you wish to honor my Mother, please make a contribution in her
memory to:
Tres Islas Orphanage Fund
3717 Monroe Avenue
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001
NOTE: "Gloria's Kitchen"
All donations to the Tres Islas
Orphanage Fund, classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3)
exempt public charity, are 100% tax deductible.
Their IRS Federal Identification Number is
84-1408725.
For more information:
Phone the Tres Island Orphanage Fund: 1-888-459-8463
Email the Fund at
email@orphanagefunds.org
Visit the Fund’s webpage at
www.orphanagefunds.org
Until my next update, I remain, your grateful
correspondent.