Dear Friends,
I am returning to Honduras with a delegation (February 28 to March 10) and I am specifically collecting new, or gently used, newborn and up to 6-month clothing to deliver to a small hospital in Las Vegas, Bárbara, Honduras. Newborns often go home wrapped in a towel, and we can help change that. The Las Vegas clinic is now delivering as many babies per month as they were per year before 2020. I took a large container of newborn clothes in September 2024 and they truly appreciated it. I can’t wait to bring some more aid to them.
In addition to baby clothes, I’m also hoping to take recently retired cell phones (android or iPhones) and laptops. You can drop off items at St John’s before February 25, 2025. I will also accept financial contributions that can be sent through the SHARE Foundation in Berkeley: http://www.share-elsalvador.org/donate.html or with a check made out to St. John’s. Please list “Mark Coplan, Honduras” in the comment section for the SHARE website and for St. John’s checks.
As you may recall, the two cities, Berkeley and Las Vegas, Santa Bárbara, became Sister Cities in 2023. In 2021, a progressive government won the vote across the nation by 70%, and our good friend and educator, Victor Hugo, became the mayor of Las Vegas, Honduras. Hugo immediately started using city resources for the community. His government began construction on a small hospital around the clinic, brought on additional doctors, extended health services to 24/7, bought an ambulance, and is providing free health-care to the community. They bought road-work equipment and are grading and paving the dirt roads. The national government has a lot of work to do, but Mayor Victor Hugo has become the poster child for how to get it done. I will also be visiting the Guapinol Water Protectors, and I’m hoping to bring a little financial support to their community.
This is from the Share Foundation website:
We are excited to announce a SHARE delegation to Honduras, Feb. 28-March 10, 2025. We wish to share an invitation from Bertha Zuniga of COPINH to celebrate the life of Berta Caceres, Juan Lopez, and all the martyrs. This will be a comprehensive delegation beginning in La Esperanza where Berta Caceres was born and was assassinated 9 years ago. We will commemorate her anniversary, alongside her compañeras and compañeros of the organization COPINH. We will also commemorate with them the most recent environmental martyr in Honduras, Juan Lopez of Tocoa.
Beyond these commemorations, our delegation will include:
• Honoring the life of Juan Lopez and spending time in the Bajo Aguan to meet with environmental defenders and those working to recuperate their land.
• Meeting with The Women’s Forum for International Women’s Day, March 8th.
• Accompanying the people during their primary election process on March 9th.
• March 24 is the anniversary of the Monseñor Óscar Romero of El Salvador.
We cannot think of a better way to follow Monseñor Romero’s example and to help fulfill his legacy than to accompany the Honduran people at this very fragile time for the majority poor and oppressed.
Because of generous funders from St John’s, this is my 16th visit in five years. On behalf of the residents of Las Vegas, Honduras, and the St. John’s Mission and Justice commission, we appreciate your continued support, and we thank you for your assistance for this important work. – Mark Coplan