The Feria and Operation Feed

by Rachel McMillan

The Feria Maestros del Arte is much more than the largest traditional art fair in Mexico. In. addition to providing an opportunity for traditional Mexican artists to sell their work, it gives Lakeside residents the chance to learn about the culture of their host country and to “pay it forward” by volunteering and sharing their home with these amazing and talented folk. 

But there’s still more. 

The Feria also provides support 

to some of the neediest people in our Lakeside community.

Each year the Feria partners with Operation Feed, a local charity that supports over one hundred families in one of the poorest communities in the area, to run the Feria Raffle. Prizes for this fund-raiser are donated by the Feria artists, and the profits are split between Operation Feed and the Feria itself enabling both to continue with their great work.

 Some of the "egg ladies" who fund and

package eggs for needy families

Operation Feed is a charity that exemplifies everything a volunteer organization should be. In operation since 1989 when a Mexican family living in the village of San Juan Cosala started to feed six very poor families, it has since grown into an organization that not only provides nourishing food packages (despensas) to 108 families (567 people) on a weekly basis, but also gives free English classes to both adults and children in the village, has a twice-a-year clothing “dispensa” for those in need, gives cooking lessons (healthy recipes using the despensa items), provides scholarships to pay school fees, and holds an annual Christmas party complete with gifts for both children and adults.

Part of their success can be attributed to a man named Augustin Vazquez Calvario, who owns and operates a popular restaurant, Viva Mexico, in the community. Pictured above with the Paul Harris Award from the Rotary. This award is an international recognition of a person who has made an important contribution to the community.

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"We are helping people and making people happy."

 -- Augustin Vazquez Calvario

The Lake Chapala area is amazingly beautiful. However, one of the most beautiful parts of the area is the generosity of the people here, locals, Canadians, folks from the US and other parts of the world. 

 When a waterspout swept over San Juan Cosala in 2007 and caused a massive landslide, Augustin opened his heart and his restaurant and fed hundreds of people for weeks. Now he continues to help “his family” (as he calls the people in his village) by handling the time-consuming work of ordering and storing the food and, with the help of volunteers, distributes it to those in need, including deliveries to those too ill or infirm to make the trip to collect it. He also offers his restaurant for the annual Christmas party, one of the most delightful and rewarding celebrations at Lakeside.

Other volunteers, including Arnie and Rosie Mogseth, Carol Curtis, and Bernie and Penny St. Louis who offered the use of the building they own next door to the restaurant, have seen the good work being done and have joined in to lead one of the most successful programs in Lakeside. 

 How you can help!

You, too, can help out. All you need to do is buy a raffle ticket (or 5 or 10). Who knows? As well as helping the artists and earning the gratitude of so many deserving people, you might just be the lucky winner of a beautiful piece of art!