Barefoot Children Ministries: Belize Outreach

BELIZE                      

(Outreach)

Barefoot Children Ministries originated at All Saints Parish and continues to serve children and families
in Belize. Our parish has a deep connection with the people of Belize and this ministry work. On March
13, 2020 I paused on a dirt path to take this photo, just before our team of volunteers left the beautiful
village of Machakil Ha in southern Belize. Notice the baby carrying, hand holding, and running to catch
up, which pretty much sums up how we all felt about parting ways. Who could have predicted that daily
life around the world would change drastically in just few days due to Covid-19 concerns and social
distancing? Although Belize closed its borders a few days after that trip, we are grateful to have traveled
there twice in 2020. We treasure time spent with old and new friends in Belize, and we always return
with much more than we could ever give. Our friends in Belize have had a tremendous impact on our
lives and our priorities, and we all feel blessed to know them and love them.

Thanks to our generous donors and established relationships with local partners in Belize, Barefoot
Children Ministries continues to make a difference during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. We purchased
sanitation supplies and distance-learning assignment paper for forty catholic elementary school
classrooms. Through our partnership with Ya’axch’e Conservation Nursery, we provide fruit trees for
families in several communities. We continue to deliver financial assistance for thirteen widowed
mothers, and to date we have raised nearly eight thousand dollars to support a food pantry operated by the Pallottine Missionary Sisters near Punta Gorda town! We are providing school fees, uniforms, textbooks, and supplies for fifteen high school students, most of whom pick up packets of assignments to complete at home. We are supporting Plenty International’s efforts to install a solar-powered water pumping system in the village of Machakil Ha. And, when it is safe for us to return to Belize, we hope to fulfill another community’s request for us to train operators and install a water purification system. If all goes as planned, we will return to Belize in January, March, and June of 2022. BANTIOX (Thank you) to all who offer support and prayers for our brothers and sisters in Belize!

Contact: Ann Lacker 636-734-7005 annlacker@barefootchildrenministries.org 

Mission Statement: Barefoot Children Ministries strives to overcome poverty, facilitate economic empowerment, and promote human dignity for families in remote villages of Belize by providing education, health and community improvement resources

The following items are always needed for students in Belize: rectangular pink erasers, individual pencil sharpeners, standard size tubes of toothpaste, bar soap, scissors, glue sticks, 12 ct. package colored pencils, 8-10 ct. package watercolor markers, white and colored chalk, volleyballs and soccer balls.

Parishioners are encouraged to participate in this ministry in a variety of ways:

Volunteer Locally

Duties: Work at fundraising events.   Sort and prepare donations for Belize.  Donate items to be delivered by mission team participants.

Special Skills: Volunteers ae oftenneeded after weeend Masses to collect and distribute materials needed for Soup Sundayy, Spare Change Sunday, and Shopping as Jesus Would collections.

Mission Opportunity in Belize

Duties: Assist with education and construction projects in Belize throughout the year.  Distribute donations and help teachers working with elementary school children OR volunteer on a construction site performing both light and/or heavy duty tasks such as measuring, painting, pouring concrete, and operating power tools.

Time Commitment:  10 day trip to Belize.  Attend team meetings and packing event propr to travel. 
Approximate cost $1500.00

Approximate Cost:  $1,500

Special Skills: Excellent physical condition, able to move about quickly without assistance, able to tolerate humid climate, capable of adapting to changes and willing to help with any tasks.  

Stay up to date with the mission trips through the Belize Blog updated by members through out the week.

Click here for On-line Giving opportunities for Belize.