The population of La Paz has grown rapidly in the past 20 years, including the number of people who live in the colonias served by the breakfast kitchen. Women of the neighborhoods, all volunteers, do the work of preparation, serving and clean-up.
Colonias Laguna Azul, Villas de Guadalupe and Vista Hermosa
During this time other neighborhoods developed even further from town; the children from these areas could not easily walk to the breakfast kitchen. In addition, the facilities, both human and physical, were being used to their maximum capacity.
After receiving two large donations through International Community Foundation (one anonymous and the other from Gene Henken, a businessman in San Diego), a new facility was built in Colonia Laguna Azul. Since opening in September, 2003, an average of 130 children were served a hot lunch in the new dining room five days a week during the school year. This number quickly changed to 150 children a day, and sometimes up to 180 children were served daily. In 2018, the number dropped to an average of 100 children and adolescents served daily. We also serve breakfast on Tuesdays and Thursdays to an average of 70 children and adolescents, to augment the program at the church in Marquez de Leon, where breakfast is served on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
GALLERY: Breakfast Program 2011—The early years
contributions by DIF and SEDESOL