(Moving To Mexico)

Prepare to be moved as we shine a light on this remarkable story of Mexicans and Canadians standing together, weaving a tale of hope, compassion, and the triumph of the human spirit in the developing community of Bucerias, Nayarit, Mexico.

In the winter of 2013 we agreed to provide assistance to needy members of Club Tercera Edad in Bucerias in exchange for the senior women making craft items to sell at the weekly markets. The monies raised at the markets provided for medication and health care for the club's needy members. We soon recognized there were countless needy seniors who are not members of Club Tercera Edad.

One of our volunteers advised us he could provide for the needs of the club members at which point we decided to expand our horizons and reach out to non club members to provide assistance where needed. At that time we became a registered Mexican charity, Bucerias Tercera Edad A.C.

We soon became aware of instances of elder abuse and the lack of everyday comforts many of the Mexican seniors are faced with. While we recognize that there is tremendous poverty in Mexico,we also recognize that many children do not care for their aging, ailing parents. It is simply not acceptable that a senior woman should sleep on cardboard placed on a dirt floor. Further it is not acceptable that this woman's children would sell a bed we could donate for her comfort. In view of our observations of the lack of care and comforts afforded the needy elderly population in and around the Bucerias area we feel these pioneers deserve proper care that can be afforded through an assisted living home.

Our hearts flutter when Elana refers to the walker we donated to her as her car and tells us she was able to attend church for the first time in 2 years by using the walker and resting on the seat along the way. This same woman now has a comfortable bed to sleep on and new sheets to cover the bed. Sr. Alvarez is now more mobile with a walker to replace the old crutches he used to get around on his severely enlarged and arthritic legs. The smile on this man's face when he received the walker was heartwarming and conveyed his appreciation. This man has eight children and only one with a limited income visits her father.

While we still continue raising funds to build an assisted living home in order to provide the local aging population with the comforts they so deserve, we continue to solicit donations of wheelchairs, walkers, beds, clothing, blankets and other household donations from Canada and from local tourists to provide an interim solution.

Senior women from Bucerias under the direction of volunteers, make beautiful aprons, adorned handbags, lovely paper flowers in brilliant colors, and many other items. Items made by this group are sold in the Wednesday Market and these funds are used for the seniors’ needs.

Money raised through cooking demonstrations, dinner parties and game days, as well as corporate or individual cash donations, is used to purchase furniture, appliances, beds, wheel chairs, etc. for any senior in need.

Our need is great and we look forward to your continued support though attendance at our fundraising events. Please check our Facebook page for planned events

We are always in need of monetary donations, as well as donations of clothing, linens and other gently used household goods. We also need craft and sewing supplies, knitting and embroidery yarn.

Volunteers are always welcome.

Contact us at buceriasterceraedadac@gmail.com or (329) 298-6441 for donation pick-up or drop off location or to learn more about what we do. If you are calling from Canada or the U.S. and have access to V.O.I.P. (vonage, magic jack, net-talk) you can contact us at (604) 792-9444.

We now have our PayPal account online for monetary donations. Please visit Bucerias Tercera Edad Donations.

Marilyn Moxin (President) and her husband Jim started out as part of Amigos de Bucerias helping needy members of Club de Tercera Edad (the Bucerias senior center) on Canal and Encino. Another person came along offering help to this seniors' club so Marilyn and her group decided to branch out with the intention of helping all needy seniors in Bucerias. This non profit group is not associated with Club Tercera de Edad, the Bucerias senior community centre, although we do provide assistance to some of their needy members.

Plans and dreams escalated. The association is now raising funds to build an assisted living home for seniors of Bucerias, Punta de Mita, LaCruz and Valle. The first phase will provide 16 double occupancy rooms with a possibility of adding a second story to the structure if warranted in the future. Fundraising efforts include corporate and personal donations, various markets, monthly dinners, raffles and other fun activities.

Our plans are aggressive and we need your support. Please contact us to donate to this very worthy cause!

Stay updated on our progress on Facebook or our project website at cdelapaz.org