Alondra’s parents live close by, and they try to help her as best they can. Alondra’s dad makes his living selling candy, chips and soda from a small wooden cart. He used to have an old horse that he would hook the cart to, going from neighborhood to neighborhood walking miles a day selling his wares. But a few months ago the horse died, and the family can’t afford to replace it. Now the dad pulls the cart himself laden down with the snacks to sell – but he has no choice, with all the mouths he has to feed.
The first time we went to visit Alondra’s house to assess the situation, her children were picking up old, hard tortilla scraps off of the ground to eat because they were so hungry. The house is only one small room that serves as kitchen, bedroom and living space for Alondra and her six children. A hodgepodge of cardboard, wood scraps and pallets make up the walls, while white sheets of plastic are nailed all over the outside of this flimsy structure. One can barely see the dirt floor in the cramped quarters. For the toilet they use a hole dug outside in the dirt with some old pieces of plywood surrounding it for some privacy.
We immediately started bringing Alondra groceries each week which includes milk, chicken, beans and vegetables, so now her children are getting good meals every day. We have a waiting list for those needing us to build them a house, but after seeing the appalling conditions this family was living in, we bumped them up to the top of the list. Our crew is working hard to finish their previous projects so they can start building a good, sturdy house for Alondra and her children to live in.
“I’m so grateful for all the help,” Alondra smiled. “Where would we be without you?! God bless you all!”