EVERGREEN STRATEGIES FOUNDATION

OUR GUATEMALA STATEGY - GUATEMALA IS A VERY POOR COUNTRY IN LATIN AMERICA, WHERE MANY FAMILIES LIVE ON $1 PER DAY. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT MALNUTRITION, AS WELL AS SUB-STANDARD HOUSING IN EVERY CITY AND VILLAGE.WE CHOSE TO HELP A SMALL VILLAGE IN RURUAL GUATEMALA, BECAUSE LATIN AMERICA IS OFTEN FORGOTTEN WHEN IT COMES TO CHARITABLE EFFORTS DUE TO FOCUS ON DISASTER RELIEF IN AFRICA.WE CHOSE THE VILLAGE OF LA LADRILLERA, GUATEMALA BECAUSE WE WANTED TO GET TO KNOW THE 600 FAMILIES THERE. THE FAMILIES HAVE STRONG CHRISTIAN BELIEFS. THE MEN HAVE STAYED IN THE VILLAGE BUT THEY LACK THE RESOURCES AND A CLEAR STRATEGY TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR VILLAGE ON A SUSTAINABLE BASIS. WE ALSO WANTED TO WORK IN A VILLAGE THAT IS REASONABLY SAFE, SO CHILDREN COULD ALSO SAFELY VISIT.OUR STRATEGY IS TO HELP THE VILLAGE HOLISTICALLY TO INCREASE INCOME AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE. SO FAR OUR PROGRAMS HAVE INCLUDED:1. A COFFEE PROGRAM TO HELP FAMILIES INCREASE PRODUCTION BY REPLACING THEIR OLDER COFFEE PLANTS AND FERTILIZING PLANTS.2. A PROGRAM TO HELP FAMILIES RAISE CHICKENTS FOR FOOD AND INCOME.3. A HOUSING PROGRAM TO BUILD BAMBOO HOUSING AND TEACH A BUILDER IN THE VILLAGE HOW TO CONTINUE THAT BUILDING. THIS BUILDER ALSO BUILDS BAMBOO FURNITURE.4. PROVIDING COMPUTERS FOR THE VILLAGE SCHOOL, SINCE GUATEMALA'S GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE COMPUTERS IN A SCHOOL BUDGET.5. PROVIDING A LIBRARY FOR THE VILLAGE, WHERE STUDENTS CAN DO THEIR HOMEWORK AND PARENTS CAN USE THE COMPUTERS, INTERNET AND PRINTERS.6. PROVIDING A COMMUNITY STORE WHERE CLOTHING, SHOES, ETC. FROM THE US CAN BE PURCHASED FOR $1.7. PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR A VILLAGE NURSE WHO A) HELPS FAMILIES AND MIDWIVES WITH PRENATAL SERVICES, B) ATTENDS TO CUTS FROM THE MACHETES USED IN HARVESTING COFFEE, AND C) PROVIDES NURSING ASSISTANCE PRIOR TO ANY HOSPITAL NEEDS (THE HOSPITAL IS A 30 MINUTE RIDE FROM THE VILLAGE AND THEY HAVE NO MEDICAL INSURANCE).AS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THESE PROGRAMS, WE HAVE ADDED A TEAM MEMBER TO OUR STAFF WHO LIVES IN GUATEMALA CITY. STANLEY ROMERO PROVIDES US WITH TRANSPORTATION AND SECURITY DURING OUR ANNUAL TRIPS TO THE VILLAGE AND ALSO VISITS THE VILLAGE QUARTERLY TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS THERE.

OUR HOMELESS SHELTER STATEGY -CHARLOTTE HAS A HOMELESS POPULATION OF ABOUT 600 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THESE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES REPRESENT THE POOREST AND MOST DISADVANTAGED OF OUR COMMUNITY.MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE MENTALLY ILL AND UNABLE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY IN SOCIETY. THESE INDIVIDUALS NEED PERMANENT, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING STAFFED BY TEAMS WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS. THE EVERGREEN HOUSING FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THESE FACILITIES THROUGH DIRECT DONATIONS AND HELPING BUILD AND FURNISH THE EMERGENCY MEN'S SHELTER. MANY HOMELESS MEN ARE ALSO DEALING WITH ALCOHOL OR DRUG ADDICTIONS. THEY ARE ADMITTED AT THE EMERGENCY MEN'S SHELTER, BUT NEED CONVENIENT AND EFFECTIVE COUNSELING TO FIGHT THEIR ADDITCIONS BEFORE OTHER SERVICES WILL HELP. THE SHELTER CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH A WARM PLACE TO SLEEP, MEALS, AND A SHOWER AT THE END OF THE DAY.WE ARE CURRENTLY STUDYING THE BROADER HOMELESS ISSUE AND UPDATED OUR STRATEGY IN 2018.