Why Isn’t the Children’s Home Full?
[scroll down for Partner updates]
It’s been nearly a year since we cut the ribbon of the John Gullo Home for Children—and if you’ve been wondering why it’s not full of kids, you’re not alone.
We’ve heard the questions from donors, from community members, and from neighbors.
And we think it’s time to have a conversation about it.
Not through rumors, or speculation, or vague updates. But directly, from us to you.
We’re hosting a live webinar and everyone’s invited!
The John Gullo Home for Children: The “What” “Why “ & “What Now"
📅 DATE: November 21st, 2025
🕕 TIME: 1pm PST
📍 WHERE: Online via Zoom
👉 REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Click here to register
We’ll talk about:
Why the home was created in the first place
The very specific kind of need it was built to address
What’s happened since we opened the doors
Why it hasn’t been used more—and what we’re doing about it
How you can help (it’s not a donation request 😉)
This isn’t a PR campaign. It’s a real conversation because we know people care, and we want to honor that by being transparent.
Whether you’ve donated, shared a post, helped build the home, or simply live nearby and have questions… you deserve clarity.
We hope you’ll join us.
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:
John Gullo Home for Children Directors Belén Meza Sández and Sara María Esparza Lucero have continued their mission to spread the word about the home and build trust across Baja California Sur.
Over the past month, they’ve met face-to-face with teams from DIF Loreto, Onco Loreto, the State Prosecutor’s Office for Children and Adolescents, and Hospital Salvatierra in La Paz. They’ve also established new connections with the nonprofit FIPCAM A.C., the General Hospital of Cabo San Lucas, and Corazones por Cabo, a group working directly with vulnerable families in the Los Cabos region.
Each of these visits is part of a long-term outreach strategy to strengthen referral pathways and raise awareness about the home’s unique mission: to provide temporary care for children whose families are facing medical emergencies.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s clear that word is spreading. Several partners have already begun referring families, and Belen and Sarah remain in close contact with social workers across the region.
The work isn’t fast, but it is working.
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:
As many of you know, 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.
While Leaders2Give does not oversee NCK’s operations, we help fund essential daily needs like food, electricity, education, fuel, and water. Our involvement also includes stepping in for urgent capital improvements like when we installed cisterns to help address water shortages in 2021.
Thanks to your generosity, 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:
In October, we celebrated the progress of Blanca Nahomi, who has shown significant improvements in her recovery.
Blanca is part of the “Más sonrisas, major salud” program, which provides medical and dental care to as many children as possible during our health campaigns in public schools. She was contacted to join the program, and upon arrival, we were informed that a few days earlier she had suffered second-degree burns.
Our social assistance team, together with the medical staff, closely monitored her case, and thanks to the dedication of our personnel, Blanca received the proper care for her condition.
It has been a long journey of over a month, but today her wound looks much better and continue to heal.
Stories like Blanca’s remind us of the great importance of donations. Every contribution allows more children in similar situations to receive quality medical care, timely treatments, and professional follow-up that makes a real difference in their recovery. Thanks to the support of our donors, we can bring hope, improve the quality of life for these children, and strengthen programs like “Más sonrisas, major salud”, which directly impact the health and well-being of our community.
Your support makes it possible for more stories of resilience and progress to become a reality. As Elsa Punset wisely said:
“Humans help because we are capable of feeling and putting ourselves in the shoes of others. And helping generates both personal and collective happiness.”
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:
What happens when you give the Feeding the Hungry Charity US $100?
A Feeding the Hungry volunteer takes your donation and purchases food vouchers.
Your donation of US $100 will purchase at least six weeks worth of food vouchers.
These are given to the neediest folk in our community.
The recipients of these vouchers not only get food, they are also reminded that there is someone in the community that cares about them and believes in them.
Your giving inspires, encourages and provides comfort to those who need it the most.
Not a single cent of your donation goes to administration. Everything goes directly to feeding people in need.
It is possible that your donation of US $100 to the Feeding the Hungry Charity may well be the most effective use ever of your charitable giving.
Every year the Feeding the Hungry Charity distributes over one thousand food vouchers, changing the lives of the poorest of the poor in our community.
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:
SNAP Los Barriles works year-round to reduce pet overpopulation through free spay/neuter, prevention, and education. Every surgery prevents suffering, protects public health, and helps our community thrive. Your support is the engine behind this work—thank you for standing with us.
Spotlight Events for November
Spaying4Change Campaign: From November 8–16, SNAP Los Barriles will participate in the Spaying4Change campaign in Baja California Sur, joining nonprofit organizations from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas in a region-wide effort to spay and neuter as many animals as possible. During this time, SNAP will host a free clinic in a rural community with limited access to veterinary care and essential animal services.
Signathon Non-Profit Showcase – Sponsored by Ronival Real Estate:
When: Monday, November 24, 4:00–6:00 pm
Where: Ronival Real Estate Office on Costa Brava, Los Barriles
A Signathon is a friendly, feel-good community showcase featuring local non-profits. Come learn, connect, and cast your vote for your favorite!
Why it matters: Signathon brings the community together to celebrate local solutions. For SNAP, it’s a chance to share how spay/neuter saves lives, lowers shelter intake, and improves animal welfare across the East Cape. This year, four non-profits will compete for a percentage of $5,000 USD.
Perks: Mango Bakery will offer tasty goodies, and Ronival will provide beer, wine, and water—free for attendees.
How You Can Help at Signathon:
• Show up and bring a friend.
• Vote for SNAP or your favorite L2G partner.
• Introduce us to animal-loving neighbors and business owners.
Ways to Support SNAP
• Donate to upcoming clinics and equipment needs.
• In-Kind Gifts: New collars and leashes (all sizes).
• Sponsor a Surgery: $30 USD can prevent countless unwanted litters.
Every donation—large or small—creates real, local impact.
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:
Exploring the Genius of Leonardo da Vinci
We’re thrilled to share that Crescent Moon Project hosted its first-ever family event: Get to Know the CMP Program and Teacher!It was such a success! We had a wonderful group of parents who came to learn more and register their children for classes. The feedback was incredible — one local 5th-grade teacher shared that he can always tell which students in his class attend CMP art sessions. We especially are grateful for the ongoing volunteer support of Robin Neal and Alison Tinger.
This month in Art classes, our young artists are diving into the world of Leonardo da Vinci. Through observation, experimentation, and imagination, children are discovering how art connects with science, nature, and invention through curiosity and creativity.
The curriculum is exploring 4 different sides of Da Vinci’s genius:
● The Curious Observer: Students practice close observation, sketching real leaves, flowers, and hands to capture the beauty of nature with pencil and color.
● Da Vinci-style Portraits: Inspired by the Mona Lisa, students explore proportion, balance, and emotion in portrait drawing, experimenting with sfumato — Leonardo’s soft “smoke” technique.
● Inventor and Dreamer: Taking cues from Da Vinci’s notebooks, children imagine and illustrate their own flying machines and fantastic inventions, using sepia tones and creative annotations.
● Nature and Art: To close the month, they observe animals and landscapes, creating watercolor or acrylic paintings that capture movement and light through layered color and shading.
Our Da Vinci month celebrates not just artistic skill but the power of curiosity — to look closer, think deeply, and imagine boldly.
What’s Coming Up:
Calendar Sponsorship: We need help covering a few months of our Art Room rent! For $300, you can sponsor a month’s rent and utilities — and receive a young artist–created painting as a thank-you gift. Win-win!
November 24 Sign-a-thon: Stop by the Crescent Moon Project booth and say hello!
December 3 & 10 – Margaritas & Ornaments: A local favorite returns — come for the fun and creativity — it’s always a blast!
Wonderland for Kids Sponsorship Program
Wonderland for Kids is a bilingual Montessori and childcare center in Los Barriles offering a Sponsorship Program to help low income families access affordable childcare. Read their latest update below:
Wonderful Beginnings at Wonderland for Kids!
This month marked our first full month following the Montessori approach at Wonderland for Kids, and it has been a wonderful success! The children have embraced hands-on learning with curiosity and joy — exploring math, language, and practical life activities in ways that truly inspire independence and confidence.
A special highlight was our visit to East Cape Dentist, where the children met the dentist, learned about good oral hygiene, and discovered how to keep their smiles healthy and bright.
We’re also proud of our sponsorship program, which helps children from single working families access Montessori education and childcare. One of our sponsored students has thrived in our daycare environment, but her family’s funds have now run out
And she is seeking to continue on with us at the Montessori. We’re seeking support to keep her enrolled and learning.
Together, we can make Montessori education accessible for all children in our community.
To learn about the different ways to donate to Leaders2Give and any of our Partners, visit our Donate page.