How To Help (financially and other very important ways)

Money for initial and capital development (for example land purchase and construction) for Las Sonrisas de los Niños has come from the personal funds of two people: myself (Reid, the main writer of this site) and Patricia.  I am kind of retired, having left gainful employment in 2001 to discover life as a volunteer in different capacities in Central America and Africa (thank goodness for Deferred Compensation Plans!).  Patricia, who fearlessly visited me wherever I ended up despite some inconveniences (to say the least) and witnessing some of the great tragedies of humankind, officially retired in April 2006.  We are fortunate that we have our own resources and savings to always run Las Sonrisas de los Niños at least at a minimal level.  There are many abandoned plans and projects throughout Honduras because, after initial excitement and perhaps money available for initial development, there is loss of interest, lack of follow-through, and dependence on donations: we are determined to always have the independent financial ability to operate the project so as not to become another empty building surrounded by overgrown land. 

ON THE OTHER HAND, we will gladly receive contributions to help with our supplies and operating expenses, which include salaries for locally hired staff, food, milk, health/hygiene items, program supplies (such as paper, books, crayons), and things like electricity and cooking gas.   Our goal from the beginning has been to use all donations for direct program support and none for administrative costs or to defray any of our personal expenses.  We have been told that this is impossible to accomplish and that an organization that claims 100% of donations goes only to program support is a trigger for audits, etc. in the world of accounting oversight.  For whatever reason we have accomplished this goal of ours, and it's been quite easy to do so.  We have been very fortunate to receive a number donations from individuals and organizations, and it truly humbling to get money from people who trust us to do with their money what they intend- help kids and not ourselves!  Las Sonrisas de los Niños is a US not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization: please click here, Make a Donation, to read more about the financial aspects of our project and how to make a donation!  Obviously, the more money we have, the more we can do. 

One of our greatest desires in relation to donations is time- that people will volunteer with us, and in doing such will find it so rewarding (which is easy to do) that they will make us their "default" charity, return over and over again, and encourage their friends to visit and volunteer with us as well.  We have had, across the board, wonderful volunteers and believe that once you have held little Nidinia in your lap and read her a story, or spent an afternoon throwing a ball around with Carlos, you will find yourself eager to hand over money to help make their lives just a little bit better!  Please visit Volunteering to learn more about this wonderful way to benefit poor kids and have the experience of a lifetime.  In the photos above (left) a really great couple, Dale and Connie, just showed up one day to give us children's books in Spanish, which are very difficult to find; (right) we had FOUR volunteers on one day- showing the kids how to do the "Tooti Ta."  Below: volunteers Tom and Stephanie hanging out in La Ceiba; Little Patricia tries on a just donated hat (MORE TEXT & PHOTOS BELOW)

Things to Bring for Donation

If at all possible, for any trip to Latin America (not just when visiting La Ceiba and Las Sonrisas de los Niños), consider dedicating one of your suitcases to items for donation; at the end of your trip you will have plenty of space for bringing back things you have purchased.  To find a place that could benefit from your donation, search the internet for charitable organizations at your destination, which usually have e-mail addresses, make contact with them, and go from there.  Also, many Latin American destinations have Spanish language schools for tourists, which are easily found on the internet and can usually put you in touch with various local humanitarian organizations.  The following items are always welcomed by just about any Latin America children's project: toothbrushes, toothpaste, children's vitamins, toys, balls and sports equipment, pens-pencils-crayons-markers, coloring books, craft materials, children's books in Spanish, and children's shoes and clothes.  Note that as a general rule you are allowed more weight and two checked items for international flights- typically the total checked baggage weight limit is 100 lbs between two bags, with the maximum weight of either bag 50 lbs.

It is difficult to overstate the expense and problems involved with getting items to Honduras other than as in checked baggage.  Considering this, we are at times in touch with people coming to Honduras who kindly bring us general or specific items we need.  We are also fortunate that, Rafael Linares and the Central American Spanish School (www.ca-spanish.com), is involved with this aspect of our project as well.  In any case, dedicating a portion of your luggage to items for donation can be a huge way to help us or any project.

Below: On our 1st trip to La Ceiba in the Fall of 2004 we filled 2 suitcases with clothes and shoes and arranged for a distribution at a village school; Volunteers Amber and Fernando brought huge amounts of kids things in July 2007 and unpacking everything was a big event for the kids; in late Oct. 2007 we were thrilled to meet up with Stephanie, our 1st volunteer (who was present on our opening day) across the border in Canada, while we were back home