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Only a Short World Away
 About a 3-hour flight will put you into Guatemala from most ports-of-exit in the US. It’s almost a shock to the system to be so close to such a different world. Yes, we have third-world poverty in the US. The difference is here, you can spend your whole life never seeing it. There - it’s hard to get away from it. Here we have a safety net. There, if you’re poor, & most people are - you have none. The public health system can hardly be called that.
Short-Term Vision - Since 1993, Vine’s mission has been to first learn to serve one country well, by establishing a medical aid distribution in Guatemala. This network of recipients has grown to almost 100 projects that receive assistance through our distribution - or by shipping designated aid for specific projects. Often, projects have supporters in the US, but have no economical means to ship a few cases or pallets of aid – much less get them through the maze of customs clearance. Vine helps by consolidating these smaller loads with ours – providing a cost-effective way to get them into the hands of projects & people that need them to serve the poor.
…& a Long-Term Vision - From the beginning, Vine’s has had a vision to duplicate this distribution system in other countries in Central America – including Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, & southern Mexico. We have served in each of these other countries, primarily due to natural disasters like Hurricane Mitch in Honduras & Nicaragua, & the earthquakes in El Salvador. Like Guatemala, Vine sees the similarities & need. Because of Guatemala, & Vine’s experience there, we see the possibilities of that becoming a reality. The groundwork has been laid - & with enough funding – this Pipeline of Resources could reach throughout Central America. |
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