Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The two week school vacation here in Mexico for Semana Santa (Easter holidays) added "sugar and spice" for many of the children at Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza. Several chefs from the local area volunteered to teach some cooking skills and help prepare a lunch or special treats with the children.

Erick Fierro, an aspiring young chef working in Vallarta, came on several days to involve groups of older children in making beef and chicken tacos, a mushroom soup and a wonderfully nutritious apple/carrot/raisin salad. Other groups, including many of the toddlers, delighted in mixing and then rolling up balls of dough for oatmeal cookies.

Another day brought Susan Pasko, a noted chef and owner of Café Bahia in Yelapa, with two of her cooks and two volunteers. Taking the hour long boat ride, Susan and her team taught many of the children a fun way to make individual pizzas using bolillos (a local bread). Some of the younger children once again thrilled the staff and volunteers with their cookies, made from scratch, with lots of butter, laughter and love!

These chefs found that this was a great way to make a difference and have fun with the children as well. If you have a special talent you are willing to share, please contact Linda, the Refugio's Volunteer Coordinator at risevoluntario(at)gmail.com, so that she may get you involved sometime soon.

RISE is a special shelter for children in Puerto Vallarta. Visiting hours are Monday through Friday from 11 am to 12:30 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 1 pm or 3 to 5 pm. It is best to make an appointment before coming to visit or volunteer for the first time.

The Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza is a non-profit shelter for babies and children under the age of 14. Some of these children are orphans but most come from unbearable situations having been abused, neglected, or simply abandoned. R.I.S.E. is a Mexican non-profit charitable organization, which accepts donations through a number of charitable organizations. More information about tax deductible donations can be found on their website: Refugio-Infantil.org.