Directors of Xela Aid and past participants are available to do presentations that feature a short introductory film, and/or PowerPoint presentation about Xela Aid and its life-saving and enriching development work in Guatemala. During the winter months, particularly early December, we often receive visitors from Guatemala who can present. Master Weaver and Midwife Amalia Vasquez may be available to speak, present weaving and traditional cooking demonstrations. Donations from your event will be used to carry on the important work of Xela Aid, and may be directed to an ongoing project of your choice. For more information or to schedule a presentation, contact Leslie Baer.

In the San Martín Sacatepequez area of the highlands of Guatemala, more than 80 percent of the populace live with limited access to potable water and medical care. With unemployment that has topped 80 percent, feeding a family is a top priority, and much else is considered a luxury. Many children are born to already burgeoning families, and it is common for an infant to be clothed in no more than the cloth it was received in for many weeks after birth. Thanks to the efforts of local Xela Aid volunteers, infant receiving packs have, since 2003, been delivered regularly to new parents in an around San Martín Sacatepequez, the "county" that is home to Xela Aid's June Russel Glennon Clinic, "Centro de Apoyo Comunal.". These lovely little packs, fully contained in large-sized zip-lock bags, contain a receiving blanket, cloth diaper, safety pins, socks, soft shoes, a unisex jumper, cap, soap and other combinations of items that are rarely available for new infants in this very poor highlands area. For more information or to assist with collecting items and assembling these packs, contact Alana Jolley.

Like infants, young children in Guatemala's rural areas suffer in poverty and commonly go without nutritional foods, essential health care, and education. When hunger and a continued onslaught of hardships impedes on family life, hygiene and hygiene education often suffer. Like infant packs, hygiene packs also fit in a large zip-lock plastic bag. They have included five new toothbrushes (different colors), a large tube of toothpaste, five thin face cloths (different colors), three family-sized bars of soap, a bottle of plastic shampoo, fingernail and toenail clippers and a nail file pack. For more information or to assist with collecting items and assembling these packs, contact Leslie Baer.

You can help by referring people to Xela Aid, and telling them about our clinic, our educational sponsorship program, our pre-school, weaving and midwives cooperative, trips and other volunteer opportunities listed in the "Participate"  section our website. You can refer them to contact us about how they can help, through our general mailbox at xelaaid@earthlink.net .

A newsletter delivered directly to your email address will tell you about what we're doing in Guatemala. Sign up on our home page or by sending a note to our general email box, subject "Xela Aid Newsletter." You can also pass the newsletter along to your friends, and they can opt in or out at any time.

Maybe you have a special way you would like to help. We'd love to hear from you. To share your ideas, contact our general mailbox and someone will get back to you promptly.