What We Learned from Casa Hogar Cabo
[scroll down for Partner updates]
If you’ve seen the movie Blue Miracle on Netflix, you might be surprised to learn it was inspired by a real place—Casa Hogar in Cabo San Lucas. That very same children’s home recently spent two days with us at the John Gullo Home for Children.
It was a meaningful visit filled with deep conversation, reflection, and learning. Their team, with decades of experience caring for vulnerable children, walked through our facility, shared their honest feedback, and offered insights from their own journey. They were incredibly generous with their time, and we were most grateful.
““It felt like a passing of the torch—like they were rooting for us not just to open our doors, but to truly succeed.””
Here’s what we’re doing based on their guidance:
We’re making the dorm feel more like a home, removing a few of the extra beds to create a warmer, less institutional atmosphere.
We’re planning a “dry run”—a short visit where some children and staff from Casa Hogar come stay at the John Gullo Home for Children. It will give us a chance to observe, practice, and adjust before welcoming new families.
We’re connecting with other homes across the region to build relationships, learn from their experience, and lean on one another when challenges arise. One especially helpful resource we were introduced to is a regional network that shares protocols, staff training ideas, and intake guidance—something we’ll be tapping into more going forward.
We’re prioritizing staff wellness, ensuring those who care for the children are supported, prepared, and not overstretched.
We’re building out a volunteer list that includes both skilled professionals and everyday helpers—people who can lend a hand when needed (see the John Gullo Home for Children update below for more info.)
The team at Casa Hogar also encouraged us to stay the course. It’s okay the home isn’t yet at capacity—word of mouth takes time, and the right families will come when they need us. In the meantime, they suggested we use this calm before the storm to get even more prepared.
Until then, we keep listening, improving, and showing up with care.
We’re proud to be part of a growing community of partners who are making a difference. Keep reading below for updates from our partners.
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PARTNER UPDATES
John Gullo Home for Children
The John Gullo Home for Children provides temporary shelter for children in BCS whose families are experiencing medical crises. Read the latest update below:
As we prepare to welcome more families, we’re focused on building a strong support network around the John Gullo Home for Children—one that allows the home to thrive, not just function.
Right now, we’re growing our volunteer list, and we’d love to hear from anyone interested in helping. We’re especially looking for local professionals who might be willing to lend a hand from time to time—cooks, drivers, tradespeople, teachers, and trained child psychologists or counselors who can assist when children arrive with emotional or psychological needs.
We’re also looking for community volunteers to help with things like gardening, arts and crafts, English tutoring, or simply spending time with the children during their stay. If you live in Baja California Sur and want to be part of that circle—even occasionally—please reach out. There’s a role for everyone.
Finally, we’re asking for your help in spreading the word. Even if someone doesn’t need our services now, they may in the future—or may know someone who does. Please share our mission with your Mexican neighbors, friends, and colleagues. If you’d like printed pamphlets or posters to place in your workplace or community, we’d be happy to get them to you.
Together, we can make sure the families who need us most know exactly where to turn.
New Creation Kids (NCK) Children’s Home
New Creation Kids is a children’s home in La Paz providing safe, stable shelter for children whose families are facing serious challenges such as addiction and homelessness. Read about our involvement with the home below:
New Creation Kids (NCK) has been with us since the very beginning and continues to hold a special place in our journey. Operated by Roberto and Alma Osuna, this independent, registered Mexican nonprofit provides a safe and stable home for up to 30 children at a time—children whose parents are unable or unfit to care for them due to circumstances such as addiction, violence, or homelessness.
As many of you know, Leaders2Give does not oversee the operations of New Creation Kids. Instead, we support them by helping to fund essential daily needs like food, electricity, education, fuel, and water. Our involvement also includes stepping in on urgent capital improvements—like when we installed cisterns to help address water shortages in 2021.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we currently have enough funding to cover their basic needs for the year. That said, the needs at NCK are ongoing and often unpredictable. If you’d like to help cover the cost of essentials like water deliveries or meals, please consider making a donation. Just $25 can support one child for ten days.
The East Cape Health Center
The East Cape Health Center is a nonprofit clinic in Los Barriles offering full medical and dental services with discounted or free care for families in need. Read their latest update below:
Preventative Summer Program
At East Cape Health Center, our mission is to serve the underserved—identifying health and dental concerns early so they can be treated before they become serious.
That’s why we were proud to conduct our annual school health screening this April, reaching nearly 800 children across Campemento, Buena Vista, and Los Barriles elementary and junior high schools.
Using our new data system, we’ve prioritized children with the most urgent medical and dental needs and will begin treatments this summer—when families have more time for follow-ups. Most dental issues are the result of poor brushing and flossing habits, and untreated cavities can lead to serious long-term health risks, including cardiac complications. With early care, we can prevent these outcomes and set kids on a healthier path.
Our pediatrician leads the medical side of the program, focusing on health education and routine exams. Kids are taught how to protect themselves through clean water, handwashing, and food safety. Testing includes stool and urine analysis and blood work to detect issues that often go unnoticed in government-funded health systems.
On the dental side, our orthodontist and dentist offer education, cleanings, and cavity prevention strategies. Children who qualify for braces are invited into our "No Cavities Club" and offered orthodontic treatment at a reduced cost.
Through this summer program, we aim to ensure every child starts the school year with a clean bill of health. We also continue our junior high school series focused on health, development, and maturity.
As always, we rely on donations to continue this vital work. Help us keep our community strong through prevention, education, and early care. Together, we can give every child a healthier start.
Feeding The Hungry
Feeding the Hungry is a volunteer initiative in Los Barriles that provides monthly food vouchers to local families experiencing food insecurity. Read their latest update below:
Why we Give
I recently asked a couple of long-term supporters of the Feeding the Hungry Charity why they first became involved and why they continue to support the charity.
Their response was, “You know, we have been so blessed in or lives. We have been together for over fifty years. We worked hard, made wonderful friendships, had fun, and lived well within our means. We have three amazing children who fortunately have followed our example and carved out successful lives for themselves. They are our pride and joy and are now rewarding us by producing delightful grandchildren. We can give, so we do give.”
I pushed a little more and asked why they chose to support Feeding the Hungry specifically.
”Food is a necessity, and it feels good to help those less fortunate than ourselves. We like the fact that the Feeding the Hungry program runs all year, and we like that the applicants are screened to ensure that they really are those most in need. We like that every single peso we give goes directly to buy food. We like that there are regular checks on the families being helped and that the program makes a commitment to the people they assist, guaranteeing to support them long enough to give them the chance to get back on their own feet where possible. The charity is addressing real need. It does so efficiently and effectively. That is why we support Feeding the Hungry.”
If you would like to make a donation to Feeding the Hungry you can do so by clicking clicking any of the donate buttons on this page and choosing “Feeding the Hungry” from the drop down menu. If you would like to get more involved please contact Ben and Harriet purkeybh@gmail.com or Gordon and oy gordonandjoy@gmal.com
SNAP - Spay, Neuter, and Prevention
SNAP offers free spay/neuter services for the local community in and around Los Barriles, BCS and promotes youth leadership through animal welfare education. Read their latest update below:
Feral Cats Are Community Cats – Let’s Care Responsibly
You may have seen them lounging in the yard, darting through backyards, or waiting patiently near your porch—feral cats, often called “community cats,” are part of our neighborhoods whether we invite them or not. And while many of us are kind enough to leave out food or water, it’s important to take the next step: be responsible enough to get them fixed.
A single unspayed female cat can have up to three litters a year, with an average of 4–6 kittens per litter.
That’s up to 18 new cats in just one year—and in five years, her offspring can lead to thousands more. Left unchecked, this cycle fuels overpopulation, suffering, and more cats living tough lives on the streets.
At SNAP, we believe in compassion and prevention. Our Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program allows community members to humanely trap feral cats, get them sterilized, and return them to their outdoor homes. It’s the most effective and humane way to stabilize local cat populations. As part of the process, the veterinarian will clip the tip of one ear—a universal sign that a cat has been fixed, so they aren't trapped again.
We have a limited number of traps available for loan, and we’re happy to guide you through the TNR process. If you feed, you can fix—and together, we can reduce the community cat population.
To borrow a trap or learn more, contact SNAP Los Barriles.
Crescent Moon Project - Art for Children
Crescent Moon Project offers free arts-based classes that spark creativity and help children grow into compassionate, community-focused leaders. Read their latest update below:
May at the Crescent Moon Project Art Center has been all about celebrating MOMS!
Our student artists poured their creativity and love into making special Mother’s Day gifts. In honor of the occasion, they designed and painted custom tote bags for their mothers. In Mexico, Mother’s Day—Día de las Madres—is celebrated each year on May 10th, regardless of the day of the week. This differs from the U.S., where the holiday falls on the second Sunday of May.
The May 10th tradition in Mexico began in 1922, thanks to a journalist's campaign to dedicate a day to honoring mothers, and it quickly gained national popularity.
Our youngest artists in the preschool class created colorful beaded bracelets. While fun to make, this activity also supported their development in fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, pattern recognition, patience, and a sense of accomplishment.
Another project involved creating decorative mirrors and picture frames. Building on a recent sculpture unit, students sculpted small Mexican-themed figures using moldable foam—chili peppers, tomatoes, flip-flops, cacti, sombreros, mustaches, flowers, and more. Each child crafted 10 to 15 mini sculptures, which they then arranged and glued onto their frames. The results? Frames that look like they belong in a vibrant Mexican art gallery!
Older students continued their tote bag projects by hand-sewing beads into their designs, adding intricate textures, color patterns, and a touch of sparkle to make each bag truly one-of-a-kind.
To wrap up—literally!—students created their own wrapping paper using techniques from our printmaking unit. Seeing how their skills from throughout the year came together in these heartfelt tributes has been an absolute joy.
Wonderland for Kids Sponsorship Program
Wonderland for Kids is a bilingual childcare center in Los Barriles offering a Sponsorship Program to help low income families access affordable childcare. Read their latest update below:
A Season of Growth
At Wonderland for Kids, May was full of growth—both in our garden beds and in our community. As part of our Gardening and Flowers theme, the children planted and now care for their own garden, learning about responsibility while gaining a sense of accomplishment.
To celebrate Mother’s Day, the kids baked homemade muffins and hosted a special tea for their moms. It was a joyful event that reminded us just how important family connection is in early childhood development.
But beyond the classroom, our mission is bigger. Through our Sponsorship Program, we support single, working mothers by offering quality childcare. For just $400 per month, children receive 9 hours of care daily in a safe, nurturing environment.
Our partnership with Leaders2Give has helped us expand this program and reach even more families in need. With their support—and the generosity of our community—we can continue to create opportunities for every child to grow and thrive.
At Wonderland for Kids, we’re not just planting gardens—we’re planting hope, opportunity, and brighter futures.
To learn about the different ways to donate to Leaders2Give and any of our Partners, visit our Donate page.