Mother Love, Community Compassion: Why Your Support Matters

By Frankie Banuelos, Director and Co-founder of Vallarta Cares
At Vallarta Cares, we witness stories of incredible resilience daily, but some leave an indelible mark on our hearts. Lulu is one of those stories.

A single mother navigating the overwhelming challenges of raising two daughters alone, Lulu is a beacon of strength in the face of unimaginable hardship.

Her youngest, 9-year-old Kendra, suffers from severe mental and physical disabilities. Kendra cannot walk, speak, or see well, and she relies entirely on her mother for even the most basic needs. Kendra’s condition is relentless—she experiences up to 80 seizures a day and requires constant care.

Lulu, who once had hopes of providing a stable life for her family, now finds herself unable to work due to the demands of Kendra’s care. With no support from her ex-partner, family, or the government, Lulu faces these challenges alone, and her love for her daughters is her only source of strength.

For Lulu, Vallarta Cares has been a lifeline, providing meals through our soup kitchen program, essential items such as diapers and medications when needed, and offering a sense of community when she needed it most.

This is why we need your support now more than ever. Your donations go directly to helping families like Lulu’s, providing not just food but the critical resources and care they need to survive.

With your help, we can continue to be the safety net that catches those with nowhere else to turn. Your generosity can comfort a mother who has already given everything she has and can help ensure that Kendra and others like her receive the care they desperately need.

By supporting Vallarta Cares, you’re not just giving money—you’re giving hope. Hope for a mother who refuses to give up and for a child who deserves every chance at a better life. Please donate today because together, we can make a difference that truly matters.

It is summer, a high-needs time in Vallarta. That’s why the Vallarta Cares community organization (formerly the Vallarta Food Bank) is making a special donor appeal this month through October, so it can keep serving 500 meals a day, provide potable water, showers, laundry machines, and even medical services to our fellow Vallartans. Find out more at www.vallartacares.org and donate at https://vallartacares.org/donations. Regular monthly donations are especially needed to help with budgeting and planning.