BELIZE
Belize City, Belize:
The Dorothy Menzies Child Care Center is a residential childcare facility which houses neglected, abused and dependent children. This is a convenient stop for cruise ship passengers who will be visiting the country for a short period of time as well as for others passing through the Belize City area. The Centre houses an average of 30-60 children ranging in ages from 1-18 years of age, both boys and girls. Visitors can come to the Centre to drop off donations and visit with the children, however child visitation is often limited to 10 minutes and many of the children may not be there due to school or other activities. It is best to phone or e-mail in advance to determine the best time to visit. Taking pictures of the children is not allowed. Donation items that are needed include: adult disposable gloves, boys & girls underwear, boys & girls clothing, boys & girls footwear, baby lotion, shampoo (regular & for lice), school backpacks, boys and girls socks, infant Tylenol, antibiotic ointment, multi-vitamins for children, mentholated chest rub, Vaseline, hair styling gel, ball point pens, pens, rulers, erasers, pencil sharpeners, long khaki pants, white Dacron shirts with one pocket, single and twin bed sheets, and pillowcases. Dorothy Menzies is the contact for this organization and themailing address is: Child Care Centre, c/o Dorothy or Karl H. Menzies, 104 Barrack Road, P.O. Box 468, Belize City, Belize. Their e-mail: dmchildcare@gmail.com. Their phone number is (501) 223-0896 or (501) 224-5415 and their fax number is (501) 227-8551. Contact the Child Care Centre in advance to find out their current needs. The Centre is located at the corner of St. Thomas and 19th Streets in the King’s Park area of Belize City, right across the street from Belize Telecommunications Limited. For more information, visit: Belize Child Care Dorothy Menzies
Areas Near Belize City:
The Liberty Foundation provides assistance to children in Belize through three major programs. The Liberty Care Program provides a home for abandoned, abused and neglected children at the Liberty Children's Home, a residential facility located on Stork Street near the Belize International Airport in Ladyville. The residential home houses up to forty children between 1 and 11 years of age, many of whom have HIV/AIDS and special needs. The Liberty Learning Centre provides schooling for these children as well as other preschool aged children in the surrounding community of Ladyville. The Liberty Children's Home is in need of new or gently used clothing for children ages 1-11, shoes such as tennis shoes, as well as baby wipes, children's Tylenol, children's Motrin, and children's cough medicine. Room fans are also needed. The Liberty Learning Centre is in need of school supplies such as school backpacks, pencils, pens, paper, crayons, colored pencils, colored markers, pencil sharpeners, chalk, erasers, educational puzzles and games, rulers, flash cards, children’s books, composition books, and arts & crafts supplies. For more information, visit the organization's website at libertyfoundation.org.uk or email belize@libertyfoundation.org.uk. If you would like to drop off items, take a tour or help with the children, it is important to contact the organization in advance by phone or e-mail to see if it is possible to stop by and to make your visit as non-intrusive as possible. Their phone number is 501- 225-2158.
Transportation to both of the above child care centers as well as to other schools in the Ladyville area can be arranged by taxi or in advance by contacting Griffith Eusey at Belize Professional Tour Guides at 501-604-1081 or at info@belizeprofessionaltourguides.com.
Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye, Belize:
There are several schools in this area that welcome visitors and donations of school supplies. Schools include the Caye Caulker Elementary School (Caye Caulker), the San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School (Ambergris Caye), and the Holy Cross Anglican School (Ambergris Caye, more information provided below.) The Caye Caulker Elementary School has over 200 students and the San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School has over 1100 students. Transportation to both of these cayes can be arranged through the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Service, located at the Marine Terminal in Belize City.
Holy Cross Anglican School on Ambergris Caye educates 440 students from pre-school through 8th grade. Students come from San Mateo, one of the most economically disadvantaged areas of Ambergris Caye. Needs include: backpacks, pencils, crayons, beads, pocket folders, construction paper, craft supplies, Elmer's glue, pens, scissors, calculators, markers, tennis shoes and flats (for children ages 4-15), ribbons, clothes pins, children's vitamins, children's pain relief medicines, small toys and prizes, staples, and paint brushes. For more information on how you can help and what's needed, visit the school's website at www.holycrossbelize.org, contact Linda Carter at lindabelize@hotmail.com or contact the school at 501-226-3456. This page provides the most current list of what is needed: Holy Cross Belize Wishlist. Volunteers are needed at the school as well.
P.A.W. Animal Sanctuary is located at 1 Pasero Street in Caye Caulker. They seek responsible, committed individuals interested in volunteer vacations to help with cat care, veterinarian assistance, humane education, community surveying, and construction/gardening. More information is available on their website: Paw Animal Sanctuary Belize. Their telephone number is 501-624-7076. They can also be reached by email at pawanimalsanctuarybelize@yahoo.com.
Saga Humane Society is located in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. This non-profit, non-governmental organization helps to monitor and control the cat and dog populations on Ambergris Cay. It also operates the only non-profit veterinary clinic on the island. For more information, visit the organization's website at Saga Humane Society. Their telephone number is 501-226-3266. Their email address is saga@btl.net. A complete wish list of donation items needed is available here: Saga Humane Society Wish-List. The organization is also in need of volunteers. Please see their website for more information.
Belmopan, Belize:
The King’s Children’s Home houses 40-50 young children and teens up to 18 years of age. Needed items included children’s clothing for boys and girls (casual and church/dressy), underwear, socks, toys, books, sheets, towels, washcloths, shampoo, children's Tylenol, children's Motrin, aspirin, children's decongestants and antihistamines, band-aids, and other personal hygiene items. The home also needs school supplies such as school book bags, pens, pencils, erasers, glue sticks, pencil sharpeners, rulers, crayons, colored pencils, colored markers, geometry sets and other items. For more information, contact The King's Children's Home Director Leonie Hererra-Gillham. The home's address is The King's Children's Home, 41 3/4 Western (G.P.) Highway, Cotton Tree, Belize. The orphanage may be contacted by email at LeonieHerrera@KingsChildrensHome.org or by phone at 501-822-2021. Volunteers are needed at The King's Children's Home as well.
Marla's House of Hope is a non-profit organization and home for up to 20 children ages 0-17 who do not have a home due to abuse, neglect and other situations. For more information, please see the organization's website: Marlas House of Hope. There is a current wish list available on the website. Items that are generally needed are socks (sizes 1-8), soaps, toothpaste, shampoos and conditioners, baby shampoo, disposable diapers, underwear for girls sizes 2-16, Tylenol, plastic plates, pens, erasers, rulers, and permanent markers. Volunteers are also needed as well. See the organization's website for more details or contact the organization by email at Marlas House Of Hope or by phone at 501-822-3982.
The Jaden Foundation is operated by Andy Hunt and Simone Angel, operators of Green Dragon Adventure Travel, (Info @ Green Dragon Belize) and the Belize Jungle Dome adventure resort in Belmopan. The Jaden Foundation is a non-profit, non-faith based organization that helps improve the lives of Belizean children through children’s education vocational training, and educational programs in their region of Belize. The organization appreciates the donation of children's books, backpacks and school supplies. For more information, visit the resort’s website at Green Dragon Belize.
Additional Resources in Belize:
Pack for a Purpose works with a number of hotels, resorts and accommodations in Belize to positively impact local organizations and communities. Check out the supply lists and drop off points listed here: Packforapurpose.org Belize.
ShoreTrips is an operator of tours and cruise shore excursions in locations around the world. The company offers a ShoreTrips GIVE excursion in Belize. See their website at ShoreTrips.com for more details.