COVID-19 Increases Need for Aid for Orphanage in Mexico
Artist Laurie Snow Hein Raises Awareness
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, devastating hardships have increased all throughout the world, but especially for poverty-stricken individuals in Mexico. Unfortunately, homelessness has increased rapidly at an alarming rate. There are many people suffering, including neglected and abandoned children; however, La Ola Children’s Home in Jalisco, Mexico is working hard to rescue these children and provide for them a home, education, love and care. Local artist, Laurie Snow Hein, is offering her paintings to help raise awareness and provide funds to support La Ola so that they can build a larger and more permanent home, to house these children.
La Ola Children’s Home was founded by Dr. Bob and Becky Plinke. After witnessing the heartbreaking poverty and neglect of many children while on their honeymoon in Mexico, the Plinke’s decided to take action. In 2010, they resigned from their jobs in the United States and moved their family to Jalisco, Mexico to create La Ola Children’s Home, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported primarily by private funding.
Long before La Ola existed, artist Laurie Snow Hein met La Ola co-founder, Becky, when their daughter’s attended summer camp together. The moms worked at the camp and became close friends. In 2012, Laurie went to visit Becky in Mexico for two weeks and took art supplies for the children. She was so impressed with the exceptional work they were accomplishing that she wanted to help echo their call, by making more people aware of La Ola’s needs. The desire was to enable them to grow their ability to provide for more children.
Last month, Laurie donated one of her original oil paintings to help raise funds for the construction of La Ola’s new home. The highest bidding donor received Snow Hein’s original painting called “The Wave”, valued at $5,200. The benefit raised $2,600 towards pouring the foundation for the building. The idea to do the fundraiser came when Laurie was asked by The New Studio for the Visual Arts of Jupiter, Florida to teach an online class on painting waves. Becky’s daughter Abby, living in Europe, joined the class via Zoom. When the class was finished, Laurie told Peggy Kirkwood, the President of The New Studio for the Visual Arts, about Abby’s parents and their orphanage called La Ola. They both were struck with the idea to name the resulting painting “The Wave”, which is the English translation of “La Ola” and use it to help raise funds for the orphanage. It was the God-given purpose the painting was destined to accomplish.
Today, La Ola cares for abandoned and abused girls, as well as those from impoverished families that find it necessary to relinquish their children into La Ola’s care for safety and an opportunity to have a good education and improved quality of life. These girls come from circumstances which put them at high risk to become victims of human trafficking. La Ola has created a nurturing environment that recognizes and responds to individual needs and provides comprehensive care that includes much more than the basics of nutritious meals, appropriate clothing, and safe housing. The girls receive medical, dental and psychological care as well as a highly accredited education at a local private school and full support to attend university. It is La Ola’s mission to break the cycle of poverty and abuse by providing these children with the knowledge, skills and self-confidence needed to be independent and live out their dreams.
Co-founder Becky Plinke says, “COVID has pushed out more homeless children than I have ever seen.” In response to the sheer numbers of girls needing help, La Ola is making plans to expand the number of children they are caring for from 20 to more than 60 children. Without the caring people of La Ola, these children would be victimized on the streets of Jalisco.
Until recently, La Ola rented various homes in order to safely house the children. Needless to say, the current housing is inadequate to care for the 200% increase in residents. Through the help of generous donors, they were able to purchase four acres of land in Jalisco, Mexico on which they plan to build their forever home.
Laurie continues to do her part to raise awareness and money to help make these dreams come to fruition. She is offering to gift a free print or giclee of her work to each person making an online tax-deductible donation to La Ola on their website https://laolacasahogar.org. There are hundreds of images to choose from in her inventory varying from $20 to $500.
Once you have submitted your donation to La Ola’s website, please email Laurie at artistlsh@aol.com with your donation receipt and arrange to select and pick up your artwork from her Palm Beach Gardens studio. Your donation will impact the trajectory of a child’s life and directly benefit them for a bright future. Adding to this, it will be rewarded with a beautiful image of your choosing to remember your contribution!
“I can’t do what Bob and Becky have dedicated their lives to do, but I can help them do it with the talent God has given me.” – Laurie Snow Hein