5 Years of Food Baskets

For the past 5 years, Louise Belisle the current president of CASA (Coronado Area Social Association), has worked to offer families in need a Christmas food baskets over the holiday season.  In partnership with San Carlos local, Sra. Maribel, CASA aims to offer the special day each year for disabled children and their families.

Since it’s inception the event has grown into to a holiday tradition that both it’s recipients and organizers look forward to.  This year one hundred families are expected to attend, each will receive a food basket and hot meal prepared by Maribel.

The day begins with greetings, as many families have come to know one another well.

“It is amazing to see the children after a whole year”, explains Louise, “its incredibly inspiring to see how they’ve progressed and grown, and embraced their disabilities.” While not all the children attending are mobility disabled, many of those who are do not have wheelchairs.  Some children have been carried to the event by a family member, and some families have come from far in the interior, making a three hours trip to attend. It shows how important this day is to them.

“The smile that lights up, even one child’s face upon receive a paper crown, toy, or balloon, that is what make the event so important for me. Once you feel that joy you just can’t turn your back on it.” 

A few years back the event took place on January 6, since the 6th is a holiday celebrated in Panama called  Epiphany (the day of the 3 kings), it became tradition to make paper crowns for the children. The crowns are handmade by CASA volunteers, decorated with glitter, glue, stars and stickers.

Each year CASA fundraises to make the event possible, and provide the food baskets. Alongside fundraising individual donations make up a large portion of the funds required. This year, like last, the fabric bags will be donated by mailbox etc. CASA is still seeking donation in the form of cash or items for the food baskets. However it is asked, that if the donation is food that it be enough for all 100 baskets, in a effort to keep each basket the same as the next. The cost of a basket is approximately $25. To make a donation contact Louise Belisle of CASA at csa2008p@gmail.com.