Written by Rebecca Mildenhall

After the huge tropical storm Cristobal forced us to postpone a programmed delivery, we joined forces with Good Intentions Project, an NGO based in Playa del Carmen, and were able to deliver baskets to the neighborhoods Colosio and Villas Del Sol, where you could see a lot of damage from the storm as well. 

The thing that stayed with me the most was that even during this hardship the community vibe was strong. Everyone was extremely grateful and kind to us and with each other. Families with children and the elderly were our first priority, and although when we didn't have enough bags for everyone, people understood this and did not argue or complain. Those who had still even basic work did not take from those who didn’t. 

On an average trip we took from 30 to 40 baskets and were able to eventually map out a route that got to everyone adequately. On our second to last and last trips we were starting to see that people had gone back to work which was comforting. The overall community spirit was lovely and everyone seemed generally happier with things slowly returning to normal. 

Want to get involved? Donate to our Rise Relief Fund on our GoFundMe page. Join us and help us support vulnerable communities in the Riviera Maya today.