I thank you as I found it this morning and perhaps help you with any local gossip you have recently heard about how both Otra Vez and Helping Hands bookstore spend their profits!

First as you are aware both are non profits, the bookstore helps La Catalina with many scholarships and we have had 4 college graduates, two this year, and will continue to do so!

The thrift store generates three times the sales of the bookstore and is again, non profit and run by volunteers! We have tried rather unsuccessfully to work with the Ejido to help with several issues that have been denied! That has left us with more funds and future projects!

All the volunteers meet at least once or twice a season to discuss future projects and last season I was approached by two individuals about taking out micro loans to improve their either business or miscellaneous need! I brought this up to the members and one was adamantly against it with others noting it was a LOAN to be paid back this current season! Ultimately I decided to go ahead with loaning them the money as they provide a much needed cultural exchange for us here!

That being said, you asked for transparency…any time you want to chat about further gossip, please find me, not another volunteer as they really don’t like being questioned about stuff that ultimately falls on my shoulders!

Thank you! And I hope this answers your questions and you continue to support us!