Mexico/Puerto Rico Fundraiser

Paola Gomez Garcia, Reporter

On Friday November 17th, the Anchorage community came together for fun and entertainment to help raise money for Mexico and Puerto Rico at the Kincaid Chalet.

The entrance fee was $20, which could have been purchased beforehand or at the door.  All proceeds went to Mexico and Puerto Rico; anyone who helped was just simply volunteering their time.

West High Special Ed Secretary Ana Acuña was in charge of the silent auction; she volunteered her time by spreading the word and gathering items for auctioning.  “I ask the local business for donations, I’ve actually gotten a lot of good responses from the community,” Acuña said.

Acuña mentioned how both countries were in huge need, but Puerto Rico needed more help due to their loss of power and resources; all communication had been lost and no form for anyone to know what’s going on.

Throughout the night, many items were auctioned off and it was all for a good cause.  A red dress became the main attraction, selling for more than $200.  All proceeds will be directly given from a group here to directly give the money to people; no agency will be a part due to corruption.  “People will get help and who ever needs it will get it,” said Acuña. In order to attract people to come to the event there was food sold, dancing, drummers and a Mariachi band.

Samantha Lagunas has been with the dance group Xochiquetzal Tiqun for about a year now. She said how most of the other girls have been dancing for more than 10 years. “I love the culture we have here in the community. Being able to come together and create this even in order to help our people from Mexico and Puerto Rico is amazing.”

The dance group performed five different songs from two states in Mexico, Jalisco and Chiapas, and beautiful colorful dresses were worn for both dances.

The Mariachi played many songs throughout the night, and then a group with a tropical vibe set up and played the keyboard, drums and xylophone. Towards midnight the dance floor was open to anyone who cared to show their moves or just simply have fun.

“It’s great being here. This was all built off on a good cause and it’s fun on how we’re helping raise money. So much dancing and music and just you feel the culture of both countries,” commented Sarah Mendoza, one of the attendees of the event. Beans and rice were served with chicken flautas and quesadillas, anything else you had to buy which was mainly just sweets and beverages. The chalet was filled with people varied in ages from young as one-year-olds to older people who all bonded by dancing, singing or sitting at tables talking to one another.

In the beginning, not many people were in attendance, but of course towards the end the chalet was packed with smiling faces, happy to be a part of the fundraiser.  What truly made this event exceptional was the diversity in the crowd; attendees of many cultures were happy to help a good cause.