august 28, 2011
helping hands of trisker (las manos para trisker) would like to thank all donors and blog readers for your time and generosity!
a special thank you today to the students of instituto monterrosa for their generous on the spot donation of $654. because you people like you, we can provide a better environment for our trisker kids!
donation monies
total donation money to date: $5,632.66
donation money to spend: $2,905.51
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total donation purchases to date: $2727.15
- $42 for 500 hangers: the “deposito” is looking much better now that dina is able to take donated clothes out of the garbage bags and hang them on the poles tom has installed to completely revamp the storage room!
- $30.92 for 15 children’s books: the kids are VERY excited about the books, considering books were hard to come by before at trisker. we read several at least a few times a day.
- $.08 donation for a key dina gave me to her cabinet where books and other purchases will be stored.
- $91.40 for about 75 school notebooks: school commences Feb. 28. as of now, trisker does not have funds for school supplies or uniforms. these notebooks were a huge help to trisker!
- $14.28 for two prescription medications for one child: we were informed by the on-site nurse and trisker administrator that these prescription medications were very pressing for the health of several kids and trisker did not have funds for them at the time.
- $11.90 for prescription medication for a second child.
- $16.03 for a plug outlet for the new donated refrigerator: tom will install the part himself to make sure the fridge is up and running soon.
- $261.73 for zapatillas for school: with consent from donors, elizabeth traveled to david with the trisker director and administrator to buy about 36 pairs of zapatillas, or sneakers, that are required for the public school uniform.
- $78.48 for plastic water bottles, pencil bags, and coloring books: this donation came with a special request, from elizabeth’s mother, to buy something fun for the kids. although the water bottles will be fun for the kids, they are also essential. the children beg for water everyday because it is not always readily available. the pencil bags are presents are for the february birthdays, a total of 7 children. the coloring books are for dina to distribute during activity blocks.
- $8.55 for stencils and stickers for february birthdays: this donation also came with the same request from elizabeth’s mom and so stencils and stickers were purchased for the february birthdays as well.
- $7.40 for punch mix: this donation also came with the same request from elizabeth’s mom and so the punch mix will be used for the joint february birthday celebration tomorrow! we began to throw end-of-the-month group birthday parties in january and hope to continue for the rest of the year. the kids love it!
- $6.80 for 5 loaves of bread: we purchased loaves for sandwiches for our beach outing today!
- $24.55 for labor and parts to fix the dormitory toilets: with no maintenance staff to speak of at trisker, people like tom herrick, who spends countless hours and, often, personal funds to maintain the facilities, are so important to the children’s well-being.
- $35.00 for 100 frosted cupcakes for 3 april birthdays and an easter celebration: as expected, the kids were thrilled to devour the cupcakes!
- $380.00 for parts for the industrial washing machine: this machine has been out of service, severely increasing the work load and time inefficiency as the tías must wash and dry clothes for all the trisker kids. the machine repair requires about double this amount and the trisker board has agreed to match our funds. *the repair labor will be donated.
- $8 in atm banking fees incurred for the donation above.
- $9.42 for cement and tool parts: the cement went to repair a gate closure to the baby play area, while the tool parts enabled a volunteer to cut through dangerous iron posts protuding from the ground in Trisker. Labor donated by Kristhian Miranda.
- $7.93 for an electrical extension and a outlet cover: the electrical extension was necessary to reach the iron posts with the necessary tool. the outlet cover replaced a damaged outlet cover in the enclosed baby play area. Labor was donated by Kristhian Miranda.
- $7 for transportation of the tools and materials for the above 2 projects.
- $11.50 for two sets of dominoes, two packs of cards and two tubs of pomade: although i was very hesitant to buy games originally, i have realized that the older children really need constructive activities to entertain them. one pregnant trisker reisdent specifically requested pomade which i also decided to buy.
- $18.38 for lice shampoo and candy: the lice situation seems to getting worse, not better at trisker. and since i have never once brought candy to trisker, i thought i might get them a treat for the next coming week.
- $12.73 for two sets of uno cards
- $25.25, $2.05, $7.49, $4.82 for various replacement parts to the showers and toilets: now that our lovely tom is back from vacation, more maintenance projects and needs are being addressed. thanks, tom!
- $13.85 for one set of uno cards and one 3-in-1 board game of chess, checkers, and backgammon: the kids are really eating up the strategy games and as long as they are using their brains and entertained, we’re all for it!
- $116 for an eye exam for raul: as stated in a previous blog, raul has severely crossed eyes. the trisker staff has been able to secure a free surgery to uncross his eyes, but the pre-surgery exam costs $116, which was not covered. we decided this was a medical cost we wanted to cover with donation money.
- $6.37 for replacement pieces to fix the drinking water fountain: labor donated by tom herrick.
- $15.27 for toilet kits and additional pieces to fix the drinking fountain: labor donated by tom herrick.
- $22.72 for two electric water heater elements and two outlet covers: tom will be fixing the electric water heater with these parts so that the tías can wash clothes with hot water. the outlet covers will be placed over some unnecessary exposed outdoor outlets.
- $20.30 for two 3-in-1 board game of chess, checkers, and backgammon and a chinese checkers game: it was so encouraging to see who the kids ate up the checkers and chess game. i really stressed strategic moves, emphasizing thinking through every possible move before making the move itself. as two kids played at a time, at least 6 others hovered over to watch. i’d love to see these games a staple in their free time.
- $27.77 for more checkers and chess games now that we´re planning a checkers and chess tournament for late october!
- $26.86 and $7 for cement, sand, and gravel plus delivery at trisker to construct a small ramp: the ramp widens what was a very narrow and complicated path to traverse, especially for the little ones.
- $27.66 for two wood chess games and connect four: the wood chess games will be used for the chess tounament in october. thought i´d make it a real event for the kids. the connect four is for the younger children who often want to learn checkers or chess but don´t quite grasp the concepts yet. now they can feel a part of the action.
- $180 for the inscription of the new boquete scout troop: we finally are officially forming the new boquete troop, comprised solely of trisker kids at this time. our member, elizabeth monterrosa, has been named director of the new troop and she’s very excited!
- $25.48 and $3.16 on baby clothes, a baby blanket, and a bag for the gift: we have a new little addition to trisker. one pregnant girl gave birth last friday. the baby boy is adorable. this young girl never got a baby shower, nice gifts, or even flowers in the hospital. and she has no family to emotionally support her at this time. we wanted to go out of our way to make her feel special and let her know that we care.
- $22.26 and $7 for cement and sand, plus delivery to construct steps in front of the fountain: there is a fountain with four faucets and one drinking fountain. until now it was very difficult for the little kids to reach, as well as dangerous, as most climbed up the fountain to reach the faucets. i have witnessed several fall backward, falling off the fountain, or forward, hitting their head or teeth on the faucets. we’re hoping the steps will make washing hands and drinking water much easier.
- $22.50 for october transportation log: expense for transferring donations and volunteers, including bus rides to david to search for scout uniform pieces and transportation for community volunteers who have been helping us prepare the kids for the checkers and chess tournament. we try to facilitate this volunteering by providing transportation to and from trisker.
- $231.75 for scout uniform pieces for our trisker scouts and scout leaders.
- $3 for copies: before the checkers and chess tournaments, the kids must pass a written quiz for each tournament in order to participate. i made $3 worth of copies for the checkers and chess quizzes, ensuring that any kid who wanted to participate certainly could attempt the quiz to qualify. most have taken the quizzes and completed them successfully. a few will have to re-do them before they can participate because knowing the rules and how each piece moves is key to participating.
- $20.29 for tournament prizes: we are hosting four tournaments in total, a checkers tournament and a chess tournament for trisker kids 11 and under and a checkers tournament and a chess tournament for trisker kids 12 and up. there are four winners and four prizes, a checkers game for those who win the checkers tournament and a chess game for those who win the chess tournaments.
- $14.93 for a pair of school shoes: one trisker child who arrived at trisker after the school year began asked if we could buy him glue to repair his badly damaged school shoes. we bought him a new pair that will last him this year and into the next.
- $13.05 for printing: today i made 24 color invitations for the gathering on nov. 9 to celebrate and officiate the new scout group, los quetzales 55 de boquete, we helped fund and create.
- $13.06 for materials to create the remaining pañoletas for the scouts
- $3.73 for ziplock bags for the checkers and chess pieces: the board game boxes have been almost all damaged or destroyed, making it difficult to keep track of pieces. with baggies for each game, we will be able to prevent having to replace the pieces due to missing pieces.
- $25.50, $11.42. and $11.55 for remaining scout uniform pieces for our trisker scouts and leaders: including socks and ornamental pieces required for the socks, as well as a pair of navy blue pants. we are still missing many pants and skirts to complete the uniforms but are working on getting them soon.
- $1.17 for clear tape: to repair checkers and chess cardboard boards that are beginning to suffer from the wear and tear of constant play.
- $70 and $8 for the logos that will be imprinted on the scout neckerchief and the bank fees for withdrawing money.
- $9 for nov. transportation log: cost incurred in traveling to organize the scout initiation ceremony on nov. 9, including the transportation of food for 50 persons on this day.
- $75 for food for 50 persons during the scout initiation promise ceremony
- $18.29 for candles and one deck of cards: the candles will be used for the scout initiation promise ceremony, with different color candles to represent the different panamanian scout districts, as well as purple candles to represent the national panama scout organization. the deck of cards are for trisker.
- $1.07 for hair ties: to be used on the scout neckerchiefs during the initiation promise ceremony.
- $20.75 for converting pants into shorts and the thread to do so: we now have scout shorts!
- $28.57 for 6 black leather belts for the scout uniforms: i only bought 6 because i could only find 6. i will be shopping around for 4 more for the rest of our scouts.
- $22 for “nudos” for the neckerchiefs: we bought officials nudos for our scouts and their neckerchiefs for their debut in the nov. 28 parade!
- $17.51 for painting materials: our group was asked to finish a paint job started by other generous volunteers from the united states who had left an entire bucket of base paint. we had to buy the rollers, pans, etc. in order to complete the base coat in the adolescents’ dorm.
- $9.64 & $7.10 for ice cream: at the end of a long, hot week, we decided an ice cream day was in order. of course, the kids loved it and couldn’t get enough! a successful event.
- $120 & $3 for the inscription in the scout camping trip that begins jan. 27 and end jan. 29 and transport: 8 trisker kids and two “tias,” including elizabeth, will be participating in the event. the camping trip will focus on outdoor exercises and spirituality for our kids, as well as traditional scout activities, such as setting up tents, learning different knots, etc.
- $68.32 for paint, paint brushes, and paint sponges: the trisker staff asked for our group to ask in “el programa de limpieza,” a day in which all the staff, volunteers, and kids would clean and repaint trisker. we were in charge of buying some of the paint and painting materials.
- $93.04 for more paint, more paint brushes, and paint thinner: we were moving along with the painting faster than expected and had to buy the remaining paint color to finish the project, more brushes for the large turn out of volunteers, and paint thinner to clean the brushes of the oil paint. trisker is looking quite spiffy right now!
- $4.32 for a manual breast pump: the teenage mom with an infant is now attending school. the baby is not adjusting well to not drinking breast milk. although she can’t her milk directly from her mom during school hours, perhaps actually drinking her mother’s milk, rather than formula, will help her adjust to the changes.
- $54.20, $77, & $3 for movie day for trisker: yesterday, four trisker employees and i took 19 trisker kids to see miniespias at the nacional movie theater in david, the nearest city with a movie theater. The entrance was only $54.20 for all 23 of us but the snacks were the big expense as i wanted the kids to really have the full experience with snacks and all! i thought the day would by chaotic but since was the first movie going experience for most of the 19 kids, they were glued to the screen. they made only the discreet sounds of munching popcorn, sucking on m&m’s, and the slurping of soda. all enjoyed the movie and the day was definitely a success!
donation purchase receipts and photos
- we will post receipts shortly after any donation money purchases.
- the last three receipt photos below document a receipt owned by charlotte la roche, an amazing trisker donor! charlotte decided to take the money she would have used to pay a local organization to volunteer at trisker and, instead, collaborated with the tías and used the money to purchase many necessary items. thank you, charlotte! you have been amazing to work and collaborate with!
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- broken gate closure to baby play area.
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- step 1: placing metal pole in closure
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- step 2: filling around hole with cement
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- final product…
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- in action: functioning gate closure!
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- dangerous, loose electrical outlet.
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- replaced and secured electrical outlet plate.
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- dangerous protuding iron posts.
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- posts gone and cemented over!
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- damaged toilet
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- parts that were replaced
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- tom at work!
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- kristhian mixing cement
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- creating steps with cement blocks
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- filling and cover blocks with wet cement
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- final product
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- checkers practice!
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- setting up the checkers tournament table
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- checkers tournament in action!
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- checking to see if the new school shoes fit. they didn’t, so we exchanged for a bigger size 🙂
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- the scout initiation ceremony!
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- thank you to our donors for making our trisker scouts possible!
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- charlotte la roche’s reciept (1 of 3)
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- charlotte la roche’s reciept (2 of 3)
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- charlotte la roche’s reciept (3 of 3)
donate
please note that donations to helping hands of trisker (las manos para trisker) are not tax write-offs because we do not have non-profit 501(c)(3) status. we are just a group of volunteers doing our best to serve our trisker kids.
to donate, go to the following piryx account to securely make a single or recurring donation of any amount through your bank account or credit card: https://secure.piryx.com/donate/dmuaVUNW/helping-hands-of-trisker/. this account is administered by helping hands of trisker to ensure full and transparent accountability and checks and balances!
aside from the 4-5% surcharge for processing donations on this site, banking fees for withdrawing donation money from the atm (usually $8 in total), and any transportation costs incurred to deliver volunteers and/or donations to trisker, we pledge that every penny will be spent to address immediate needs at trisker. to stay true to this pledge, we post a donation monies, purchases, and receipts log on this blog post. we believe in transparency and accountability and hold ourselves to the highest standards!
thank you for your interest and support!
helping hands of trisker ~ las manos para trisker
helpinghandsoftrisker@gmail.com
helping hands of trisker ~ las manos para trisker 
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