Fast Track Panama Conference 2020 – Fatima Parish

Please Help Fatima Parish!

Since 1980, the good folks at Fatima Parish have been taking care of children and looking after the elderly in one of the most challenged neighborhoods in Panama City.

Fatima Parish offers schooling, before- and after-school care, and vocational training workshops. The Parish runs schools in three different locations. It provides a hot meal to hundreds of kids every day. Plus, it gives training and support to teenagers—keeping them off the streets and out of criminal gangs.

The Parish also takes in children whose parents are unable to look after them, whether that’s for a few weeks, months or years. And, they look after elderly folks who need full-time care.

Fatima Parish needs money for operating expenses, food, hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, and school supplies (books, pencils, pens, etc.).

The expenses for Fatima Parish run around $20,000 a month. However, the state subsidizes them to the tune of only $2,000 a month, leaving Fatima Parish $18,000 short each month. The only way they can make up the difference is through private donations.

As an attendee of the upcoming International Living conference, you can help. Here are four ways you can make a difference:

#1. Bring Stuff! If you have any spare room in your suitcase, please squeeze in whatever you can: school supplies (stationery, pencils, crayons, etc.), toiletries, toothbrushes/toothpaste, medical gloves, adult or baby diapers, clothing (new or used, adult or child), or toys.

#2. Make a Donation. You can do this in cash or by check at the Fatima Parish table at the event. If you want to make a donation by check, please make it payable to Asociacion Religiosos Mercedarios (this is the registered name of the charity).

#3. Fundraise. An attendee at a previous event brought along $1250 she had fund-raised back home. You could run a bake sale, a yard sale, do a sponsored walk…every cent counts!

#4. Buy Tickets! I’ll be running a prize draw at the conference. The winner gets a basket of goodies, and 100% of the ticket monies raised will go straight to the Parish. Tickets are $2 each or three tickets for $5. You can buy tickets at the Fatima Parish table at the event.

If you want more information, please contact Margaret Summerfield at msummerfield@pangearesearchgroup.com.

Kind Regards,

Margaret Summerfield
Margaret Summerfield