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Home > Company > Industry News > E-Newsletter > May 2018 > Traveling 2,448 Miles to Make a Difference

Traveling 2,448 Miles to Make a Difference

When you think of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, you might dream of a sunny beach vacation at an all-inclusive resort. If you have connections, you even might get into one of Sammy Hagar’s birthday bashes. We hear he has one every year.

For people who live in Caribe – a dried-up riverbed on the outskirts of resort-ridden Cabo – their concerns are far from a birthday bash, but instead are on securing adequate housing, food, and livable wages.

About 28% of Cabo’s population lives in poverty, earning less than $3.90 a day. Nearly 6% live in extreme poverty on daily wages averaging $1.90. Many live in shacks made of whatever they can find—pallets, plywood, tin.

There is a bright spot. We know people who want to help.

Making a Difference In Caribe

One employee, Jeff, his wife, and a small crew from their church went to Caribe to build sustainable resources to help fulfill the spiritual and physical needs of the people living there.

alexandria industries, volunteer policy,

Jeff Way, his wife and another volunteer deliver groceries to the people of Caribe

Jeff and his wife operate a sustainable vegetable farm when he is not working at Alexandria Industries. Naturally, they wanted to help plant a garden. They dug trenches, set up an irrigation system and made the topsoil, which is purely sand, into quality growing dirt by adding compost to it. They also helped rebuild a small church.

During his time there, Jeff delivered groceries to the some of the families. It was then when he met seven year-old Abigale, who lived with her mother, sister and brothers in a small shack. Days later, Abigale walked nearly a mile so she could attend the new church on Sunday with neighbors and the people who helped rebuild it.

Watching Abigale walking to church, alone, because she wanted to, Jeff knew they were making a difference. It was life changing for him, and possibly for the people in Caribe.

Alexandria Industries Volunteer Policy

The new sustainable vegetable garden for the people in Caribe, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

After returning home, Jeff received pictures of the garden they helped plant. The seeds had sprouted and were starting to grow food. He also received  pictures several weeks later, which included a special thank you heart made from radishes grown in the garden.

Whether he plants a garden, rebuilds a church, or feeds the hungry, Jeff is happy to support our global community to make a difference.

Alexandria Industries, volunteer policy

Alexandria Industries offers employees eight hours of paid time off to donate their time to help non-profit organizations. From Alexandria to Mexico, employees contribute countless hours of service, making a difference for many people and organizations. If you are interested in learning more about our Volunteer Policy, email: dmoorman@alexandriaindustries.com.