The Need

One of our supported ministries is Rancho Genesis, located in a pretty little valley just south of Ensenada. Last year the Director, Greg, shared with me the need to get the hundreds of kids who live in the villages around his ministry out of the fields where they do 'stoop labor' and into school. 

This seems an impossible dream. There are two obstacles:

First, the kids are contributing to the family by working; parents are reluctant to send kids to school when the income they earn helps feed the family.

Second, kids are required to wear uniforms in order to attend school. When the family income is well below the U.N. poverty level, purchasing a school uniform is an extravagance hopelessly beyond even the dream of a family. And when there are several school-age children ...

...well, it's simply not even worth dreaming about.

The Supply

God provides. Prayers are answered before they reach our lips. An owner of a variety store decided to retire, and rather than sell the store, he donated the entire inventory to Hilarious Givers. Among that inventory were hundreds upon hundreds of school uniforms! And of course, since God's schedule is exquisite, this occurs shortly before the first day of school!

The Action

Greg convinced the parents to enroll their kids in school, most for the first time. Hilarious Givers' volunteers rushed the uniforms across the border and to the ranch for distribution. In addition to these sorely needed uniforms, Hilarious Givers provided food to supplement the 'cocinas' of the families.

Now, for those few hundred kids, the cycle is broken. When they grow up they will know more than how to pull weeds - they will be educated and will demand the same for their kids. There will be fewer would-be migrants crossing the border seeking menial labor to survive.