Vallarta Food Bank was Created by Jimmy Plouff and Francie Victoria who converted their Restaurant, Tunnel Road BBQ into a Food Bank in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The Vallarta Food Bank Provides Much Needed Food to the Less Fortunate People in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, During the Global Pandemic in 2020

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Hello fellow travelers, welcome this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel show. I am your host Barry Kessler and I am just so happy to be introducing you to my favorite vacation destination, and maybe even yours, Puerto Vallarta Mexico.

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That music you were just listening to is performed by Alberto Perez, the owner of the La Palapa Group of Restaurants. Those are La Palapa, Puerto Vallarta’s Oldest Restaurant on the famous Los Muertos Beach, and The El Dorado Restaurant and Beach Club right next door so you can enjoy that fantastic view of the Los Muertos Pier all lit up at night in beautiful colors, or during the day in its grand splendor for breakfast, lunch or dinner, seated with your toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. It’s so romantic, it’s so, Puerto Vallarta my friends.

This week, instead of doing a Real Estate Round-table like planned, I’m going to concentrate on what’s going on down in paradise during this crisis, and how we can help our friends down there, make it through this pandemic. But before we get to that, let’s see what’s happening this week in Puerto Vallarta, the 5^th of April 2020.

Vallarta Food Bank Go Fund Me

 

Contact Information For Vallarta Food Bank

• Address: Rio De La Plata 379, Colonia Lopez Mateos, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vallartafoodbank/

Puerto Vallarta is on lockdown as is almost the rest of the world due to the Corona Virus. The time change finally came on Sunday, finally daylight savings time came and pushed the clocks forward an hour, but during the voluntary quarantine, nobody noticed. It did change however whether you noticed it or not. The Malecon and beach have been closed. Folks have been asked to stay at home. And by the way, I hope all of you are doing well, and that nobody in your family has been stricken with the Covid -19 virus. That would be awful. Please stay safe. Follow the rules. Wash your hands. The sooner this is past us, the sooner we can return to Vallarta. In the meantime, please make sure to reach out to friends and family with a phone call. It’s important to talk with people. Don’t forget your neighbors. Especially the ones living at home all alone.  Most of all, be kind and encourage one another and we will all get through this together. Hey, call me if you need someone to talk with. Seriously. I’m listed.

So, back to Mexico….orders came down from the Governor of Jalisco Enrique Alfaro, April 1 regarding Jalisco’s fight against the virus…..Dis directive was as follows….

1. Starting at 7 pm today, supervision work begins to comply with the social isolation measures in Jalisco. The City Councils and the State Government will enforce the decree that prevents work outside of essential activities.
2. Construction, electronics, mining are some of the prohibited activities. Three activities with high labor demand in Jalisco. Construction and electronics will be reviewed more closely, because the Federal Govt did not clarify.
3. There is not, nor will there be, for the time being, CURF. It is a call to responsibility. It is expected NOT to reach the curfew, said Alfaro.
4. Street markets and markets will be allowed, yes, but only for the sale of food.
5. Industries that do not stop and comply with the decree will have economic sanctions and closure. Only those that sell essential food and household items will be allowed to open.
6. They will close non-essential businesses that they work, the inspections will be made by the municipalities with the support of the Ministry of Labor.
7. Restaurants, groceries, supermarkets, street markets, markets, Oxxo’s, agri-food industry are PERMITTED essential activities.
8. Clothing, toys, leisure, are commercial activities NOT ALLOWED.
9. Today the closings begin at 7:00 p.m. in Jalisco.
10. People who want to go on vacation, to the shores of Jalisco, to the magical towns or mountain destinations, have to know that strong restriction measures will be taken for Puerto Vallarta, other municipalities, spas, among other tourist centers.
11. They are reviewing how to make control points, with the National Guard and the Federal Police, for highway access to Jalisco and to shield access to the State.
12. It was agreed that employers will make the effort so that jobs are not lost in the state.
13. Everything is going to be done by the companies to take care of the workers and do not lose their sources of income.
14. “The respectful appeal from the government, IP and unions to the President of Mexico to reconsider their support for the IP to face this circumstance. If the businessmen are showing will, the government of Mexico must propose an adequate route to do their part. We want respectfully ask that the request of the businessmen of this country be attended “EAR.
15. Starting at 7pm, that is, 24 hours after the agreement that the governor announced today, the municipalities begin with the review of establishments that cannot operate as part of the health emergency.

And I have a link to the speech in the shownotes.

So far to date… there are 2,785 confirmed cases of the Corona Virus in Mexico. And 141 deaths.

First two Corona Virus Related Deaths in Vallarta

 

Confirma Secretaría de Salud segunda muerte por Covid-19 en Puerto Vallarta

According to local health authorities, it has been confirmed we have seen the first two corona Virus related deaths in Puerto Vallarta. One was a 30 year old man and another 72 year old man. Both were timeshare promoters with Vidante. Selling timeshares at the airport shark-tank. The first had underlying issues of obesity and hypertension and the second also underlying hypertension contributing to the deadly result.

Vidante Begins Massive Layoffs

And speaking of Vidante…according to this article in TVO Bahia Noticias April 2^nd Vidante Begins Massive Layoffs…

More than 4,000 workers were dismissed, construction workers, administrative and operational personnel, some with as many as 15 years of service to the company were notified, they were being let go with just a phone call.

Lines of the newly laid off formed at the Vidante office where they collected their last paychecks and signed off their termination forms.

And now, reports that Vallarta Adventures has done the same thing with it’s employees.

http://rmxnoticias.com/puerto-vallarta/ciudad/vallarta-adventures-despide-a-trabajadores-con-enganos-denuncian/?fbclid=IwAR1wVEshdkHP8VGgj-jTDGBIrKKC2m9nTKLO8XTIcOdc9_Kf_TBcdMpWPok

Very sad. We’ll see what happens there when things finally get back to normal. And we really want that to happen sooner than later for the sake of these hard-working Mexicans.

Corazon de Nina needs Your MAKE A ONE-TIME CRISIS DONATION

Melissa Canez at One of our favorite Orphanages…Corazon de Nina is in need of some help… Let me read from her email she sends out to those on her list, and by the way, I have a link that will get you signed up for their newsletter in the shownotes… here’s the note…

As we face our global health crisis, we want to take time to say “thank
you” for being a supportive friend of your Corazon de Niña family. Because
of you, we are able to shelter and transform the lives of over 100 girls
and boys, from hopeless victims to self-confident independent adults.
Despite all that is happening, the children are thankfully all healthy and
upbeat at this time. We are not going anywhere except shopping and/or
Medical appointments at this time.

KEEPING OUR FAMILY SAFE

In order to keep our home and children safe from Covid19, we are taking all
precautions seriously and joined together to keep our family healthy,
prioritizing cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing and personal hygiene within
the home in all areas. We have huge sanitation expenses (including
installation of additional hand sanitizer units, more anti-bacterial gel
and soap of every kind in efforts to step up hygiene in the house, face
masks, gloves, Vitamin C, Oil of Oregano and Eucalyptus, MORE Vitamin C
enriched fruit).

At this time, no one is showing any signs of sickness, but should this
change, we will follow our strict protocols to separate, and treat
individuals with professional diagnoses and recommended treatments..

Although we do not like to admit it, today we are feeling particularly
vulnerable. We are concerned that the problem that may be bigger than the
virus itself will be the fact that thousands of people have been laid
off and there is NO GOVERNMENT PLAN OR SUPPORT IN PLACE to help them with
FOOD. People will do whatever it takes to feed their families. Businesses
are boarded up and people have already been approaching us asking for food.
We are putting extra locks on the doors this week and using extra caution
when leaving the house.

5 TOP CRITICAL NEEDS NOW & IN FUTURE

1) Vitamin C

2) Oil of Oregano Drops

3) Antibacterial gel & Liquid Hand Soap

4) Toilet Paper & Paper towels

6) Feminine hygiene

7) Diapers (Size 4) & Naan Soya Formula (3)

PRIORITY FOODS

1) Fruit (Oranges; Guayaba, Bananas, Apples) & Veggies

2) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

3) Skim Milk, Rice/Almond/Soya Milk

4) Tuna

5) Cream

6) Ham

7) Chicken

8) Fish

CRISIS IMPACT

Corazon de Niña receives no government aid and is solely dependent on
private donations, fundraising tours and events which were cancelled early
this year creating a significant shortfall in our annual income. In
addition, we are experiencing negative Covid affects with cancellations of
some major monthly support, including diminishing fresh food donations. The
tripling of our annual Health Insurance premiums has meant we were unable
to renew. Where we would normally have a savings for this sort of
eventuality – this year we do not which is why we really need your help.

AVERAGE MONTHLY COSTS

• Feeding the family: $ 70,000 pesos
• Clothes and shoes: $ 35,000 pesos
• Cleaning & personal hygiene: $ 30,000
• Utilities: $ 35,000 Pesos

HOW YOU CAN HELP THE CHILDREN

MAKE A ONE-TIME CRISIS DONATION

During these immensely challenging times, please consider making a one-time
Crisis Donation.

Contact us at donations@corazondenina.mx.

So go to donations@corazondenina.mx   to my website at www.pvtravelshow.com and go to the blog tab, click on this episode so you can get all the information you need and give a one time crisis donation, or even more.

Now I have been working on a project with Corazon de Nina, suggested by listener Patricia, she got in touch with me a couple of months ago and suggested I put together a video to distribute to charities and organizations that might be interested in what Melissa’s doing at Corazon de Nina, and I’m going to have that finished soon, and when I do, I’ll let you know. Until then, give, they really, really need you. Their extra fundraising ability has been cut off till this passes.

Now here’s a cool idea,

Café Des Artistes Has A great Idea….Gift Certificates

Here’s their message…

As you already know, we have decided to temporarily close our restaurants to support sanitary measures against the global epidemic of the COVID-19 virus. For Grupo Café des Artistes the most important thing is the health of our clients and the heart and motor of our company: our staff.

We know that you and your family are now at home taking care of your health, so we offer you gift certificates, for sale online, to create a support fund for all our collaborators and to cover all the fixed expenses that we will have on the following days.

If you have come this far, we thank you in advance for your help and support, these certificates will have a special benefit for you. In the purchase of a certificate (s) of $ 400 pesos, you will obtain $ 500 pesos of credit and $ 800 you will obtain $ 1,000 pesos of credit to use either in Café des Artistes or in Tuna Blanca Restaurants.

When making your purchase, an electronic certificate (s) with the total value will be sent to your email. When placing your order, please be sure to verify your personal info. You must present your printed electronic certificate (s) as proof of your purchase.

The certificates will be valid for 18 months from the moment of our restaurants reopening.

* Purchase promotion valid until May 30, 2020.

* This offer can not be combined with other offers.

* Certificates may not be redeemable for cash.

So, what a cleaver way to keep money flowing and helping our friends in Puerto Vallarta. And you will be rewarded with a great dining experience when you present one of those gift certificates.

Purchase Your 1,000 Peso Gift Certificates Click Here

Purchase Your 500 Peso Gift Certificates Click Here

 

Beach Activities For Semana Santa, Cancelled

I was talking with my friend Salvador Estrada, the Candyman on the Malecon, and he tells me that Semana Santa has been cancelled. No Beach Activities. They even have a roadblock set up in Sayulita to keep people out.

Vallarta Food Bank, Puerto Vallarta

So, how’s your checker at your corner supermarket doing? Mine’s doing great although he’s now positioned behind a plastic spit shield. Dwayne. Says he’s going to buy a Tesla when this is all over. Go Dwayne.

Well, as you know if you listened last week, we had Jimmy Plouff on talking about how Vallarta’s grocery store baggers, who are all seniors and work on tips only, were told to stay home and shelter in place and therefore, had no money and were going hungry. Well…Jimmy and Francie did something pretty wild. And they have gotten lots of help

from Francie Nguyen from Bonito Kitchen and Ramen Ya and Bonito Café fame…well it’s pretty exciting what they are doing and what they have done, let’s go to Puerto Vallarta, to Rio de Plata 379 colonia Lopez Mateos and visit with Jimmy Plouff of Tunnel Road BBQ…or is it still Tunnel Road BBQ…let’s see what’s going on….

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Contact Information For Vallarta Food Bank

• Address: Rio De La Plata 379, Colonia Lopez Mateos, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vallartafoodbank/

Vallarta Food Bank gofundme

Now I’ve been told a bunch of you have already given, in fact the gofundme is now up to $40,000 with a goal of $50,000 US so thanks for all you’ve given so far, and keep it coming. The folks that are depending on Francie, Frankie and Jimmy are depending on you to get them through this difficult time. The dollar is strong against the Peso, so it will go even further right now as well.

And next week we will talk with Jimmy again for another update. Dude needs a real microphone.

Protective Gear for Healthcare Workers and Fellow Vallartans

And Pam Thompson Web of  Health Care Resources Puerto Vallarta  has a group of volunteers sewing protective masks for the health care workers in Puerto Vallarta, From her post. March 30^th….

Pam Thompson

Over the next few days I hope to post photos of our sewing folks (or folks sewing!) Here are a couple to start. Someone delivers batches to San Javier. Then, all are sterilized at San Javier and packaged in packs of 10 (of course no charge). Today I gave a bunch to nurses at IMSS, left a bunch for ISSTE, sent many to Hospital San Pancho and as always two giant packages for Regional Hospital. As the masks are made we will repeat this sequence over and over and over. Tomorrow I will be in touch with more nurses that work in the public sector.

Sheets: The Hilton has donated many. Also, many of you out there in Facebook land are donating and we are working on the pick-ups.

Shortly, the other items will begin being distributed to the public sector including patient gowns, disposable scrubs, disposable gowns for physicians and nurses.

Please when you send thank you’s, it most certainly is not just me! Robina Oliver Jeremy Satterfield Caroline Caliz Casey Adams Binstadt and so many more that I will introduce you via FB over the next few days. Thank you everyone who have assisted.          

    To Donate..Contact Robina Via Email LaSirenaReina@gmail.com

We all love Puerto Vallarta!

And I have the contact information for Robina in the shownotes as well so you can donate to help protect the health care workers in paradise. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. And it’s so nice to see so many of our friends, helping in all of these efforts. Robina, Pam, our friend Sylvie is delivering the masks all around from her motorcycle. And of course Jimmy and Francie, and Francine Nguyen, so many of our friends are involved in helping this town, when the chips are down. Remember your Vallarta friends, Look for your Mexican friends on Facebook and reach out to them. If they’re hungry, direct them to the food bank or send them something via MoneyGram. In the meantime…please take care of yourselves. Stay well, slow down, be kind, stay positive and most of all,  love one another.

Okay that should do it for this week.

Next week, stay tuned for more on the ground reports from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, with travel tips, great restaurant and excursion ideas and more.  Until then, remember, this is an interactive show where I depend on your questions and suggestions about all things Puerto Vallarta. If you think of something I should be talking about, please reach out to me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending us your message.

And remember, if you are considering booking any type of tour while you are in Puerto Vallarta, you must go to Vallartainfo.com, JR’s website and reserve your tour through him, right from his website. Remember the value for value proposition. His experience

and on the ground knowledge of everything Puerto Vallarta in exchange for your making a purchase of a tour that you would do anyway, you’re just doing it through him as a way of saying thank you. It costs no more than if you were to use someone else so do it. Really.

And when you do take one of these tours, email me about your experiences. Maybe you can come on-board and share with others what you liked or didn’t like about the tour. Again, contact me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending off a message. Don’t forget his maps, his DIY tours and his revitalized Happy Hour Board. I have links to all of those in the show notes.

And once again, if you like this podcast, please take the time and subscribe and give me a good review on iTunes if you would. That way we can get the word out to more and more people about the magic of this place. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Remember I made it easy for you to do just that with each episode I create. But if you haven’t been to my website, you really need to have a look there.  I have the links to the places we talk about, interesting pictures and the more all right there in my blog-posts and show-notes for each episode of the show so check them out for sure if you haven’t already all-right? All right.

Thanks to Jimmy Plouff and Francie Victoria, from Vallarta Food Bank. Thanks for all you are doing. Thanks to Francie Nguyen from Bonito Kitchen, make sure to send to the Go Fund-Me. Remember if you are still in town they are doing take out. Fresh and delicious and very sanitary. I have all the information in the show notes. Thanks to the mask makers. Send Money to Robina too. Remember, call me if you need to talk with someone. I’m here for you. I mean it.

And thanks to all of you for listening all the way through this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. This is Barry Kessler signing off with a wish for you all to slow down, be kind and live the Vallarta lifestyle. Nos Vemos amigos!

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