Close up on The Projects, First Stop: La Tienda

To me the Tienda is the heart of it all. The Tienda is the community store where the Mujeres De Lucha provide everyday goods and affordable prices for the community. 

There is also the yard in front of the Tienda where special events are held, where we eat lunch, where the ladies make bolones for extra income and more. There is a stove and a table and always a good time there. 

 The challenge with the Tienda are many... but I'll just list a few things...we take inventory on notebooks so it's kind of unofficial and hard to keep track of the items. Also since the tienda feeds the Mujeres, our lunch, the Comedor AND the community...there is a lot that is taken out of it, but the tracking is mas o menos. That's one thing I'm trying work on right now, keeping track of what is leaving and how much it is costing the Tienda. Another huge challenge is keeping things in stock. In these pictures the Tienda looks full and thriving! Right now however, the shelves are getting bare, and we just went to the market and got a ton of food! We rely heavily on the kindness of others and donations.   My Focus while being here is sustainability of all of these projects. So while donations are great, it's not guaranteed and it's not consistent. Sometimes, often, we have to turn customers away because we don't have something in stock. We also don't like the venders come by looking for there money! Hooo Wee! We all go running. We have to keep our lights on, the phone on, the electricity for the refrigerators so the food doesn't go bad on. It's a struggle for sure. I'm currently looking for grants and more people to donate but it's still a challenge. Foundations that give you money also want to see that they are giving to a sustainable project. People who donate want to know Exactly where there money is going. 

The Mujeres Always land on their feet. I see that. I just want them to not have to be Women of Struggle (Mujeres de Lucha) I looked up "Lucha" in my Span/Eng Dictionary and it means :Struggle, Fight or Strive For...So I want them to be Women who are just Striving...Striving & " Working for a Better Tomorrow" (their slogan).