Spring cleaning to help a cause ... May 15-30 we're collecting shoes and clothing to support Families at the Dump.

Any sizes for any ages. Drop off items at Vallarta Yacht Club and Philo's in La Cruz. What an easy way to support a great cause!  Stop by with your t-shirts, sandals, shorts, whatever you have. Kids in the house?  Perfect! We'll take those clothes and shoes they outgrew last month..and the month before.  Thank you for your help.
VYC hours are 11am-10pm daily, Sundays 12 noon - 8 pm. Philo's opens at 4 pm Tuesday-Saturday.

Yes, there are Angels - right here in Vallarta!  PVAngels is an organization committed to uniting charity and the community - helping people learn about charitable organizations, events and news, in their own words ... "the dream of PVAngels is to create an atmosphere of pulling together in making our perfect little corner of the world a better - and better known - place." Visit their website PVAngels, and check out their calendar of local events all around the Bay.

Sunday, May 6th at 6:00 pm is the date of the 8th annual Altruism Festival, hosted by the US Consular Agency and Casa Magna Marriott Hotel. This is the largest charity fundraising event in Vallarta, with almost 40 restaurants participating plus live music, dance presentations, and more. All proceeds are shared equally between 24 charities from Vallarta and Nayarit, selected by lottery.  The Festival is held on the beachfront lawn at the Casa Magna Marriott in Marina Vallarta.

Families at the Dump needs bags for the "helping hand" store and emergency Food Bank.  What an easy way to help a charity, just save your WalMart and Mega shopping bags!  Bags can be dropped off at their FAD office, on the 2nd floor of Paradise Village Mall.  Office hours are 10-2, Mon-Fri.

Want to help a little more? Fill some bigger bags with used shoes and clothing for their store. End of season is a great time to clean out the closets.  Extra non-perishable food? Add it to the bag! The VYC will hold a Shoe & Clothing Drive May 15-30. Leaving earlier? Drop it off any time at the VYC, we'll get it to the Families at the Dump. What could be easier?

The "helping hand" store at the FAD location next to the Dump is where families registered with the Families at the Dump program can use the points they earn in exchange for clothing. Helping with the day care center and other activities all earn participants 'points.'  This way, FAD provides a helping hand, not a handout, as families learn that productive work and participation leads to a better life.  So be a bag lady (or guy)!