The Mayan villages of Santa Cruz La Laguna on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala need
immediate help with the essentials of life as they rebuild after Tropical Storm
Agatha’s devastation, said Pat Torpie, Director Amigos de Santa Cruz Foundation.
An appeal has gone out to friends of Santa Cruz asking for donations for what is needed
immediately by highland Mayan families in the community.

The June storm, Guatemala’s worst in 15 years, saw the loss of lives and houses in the
upper villages of the Santa Cruise area. Millions of tons of water, rocks, and mud tore
through people’s lives, leaving these small communities without roads, access to clean
water, food and adequate shelter.

“We are asking for donations to help the forgotten towns, ” said Torpie. “The essentials
have been washed away for so many of Santa Cruz’s families. Getting a household
started again means clean water is available, food is cooked, crops are replanted while
sturdy and reliable shelter is being restored.”

Many have lost homes. Many are living on piled mud wet floors with dangerously
unstable walls for shelter. Many have lost all household items, including pots and pans
and stoves. Still others have lost their crops and their tools to replant and begin again.

What’s needed now:
Clean Drinking water – water filters @ $60
Household essentials – sets of pots and pans @ $20, stoves @ $100
Rebuilding sustained nourishment – set of agricultural tools to replant crops @ $40
Building tools – tool kit @ $30
A new and safe plot of land @ $1, 200

And more – @ whatever you can give
Please send donations to Amigos of Santa Cruz through its website: http://
www.amigosdesantacruz.org/Amigos_de_Santa_Cruz/HOME.html