Five Rotary clubs and three Lions clubs met in Calexico on Thursday, Feb. 17 and off loaded 3000 pounds of clothing that made it to four orphanages and two mental hospitals for adults in Mexicali. Medical equipment of approximately $5,000 found its way to the Mexicali General Hospital that did not get the “wrecking ball” as was expected, due to last year’s massive earthquake.

On Friday and Saturday, the group of 20 who went down, which included six doctors, performed exams at clinics and installed playground equipment at the Soledad Ponce De Leon elementary school in the Centinela area of Mexicali, which is 18 miles southwest of the city.

There were 238 eye exams performed by three optometrists and 178 pairs of glasses were dispensed. Sixty foot exams were performed with two surgeries and one pair of braces will be shipped to one child. There were 80 rabies vaccines administered by two veterinarians, one of whom is a resident of Mexicali and attended Cal Poly Pomona. The dental clinic consisted of 40 exams and 90 fluoride treatments.

The playground equipment installed included Playschool brand commercial equipment with swings and slides with a value of $25,000 new. A tetherball and a teeter totter rounded out the play area.

The following clubs were represented on this, my 30th consecutive trip of goodwill to Mexico: Groveland, Oakdale Sunrise, Escondido Sunrise, Calafia De Mexicali district 4100 and Tupi Paulista district 4510 Sao Paulo, Brazil Rotary clubs with its exchange student Luan Macena Ferreira e Silva and the Interact club of the Calafia club. The Lions clubs included Sonora Mountain Lions, Oakdale and the Alameda Breakfast clubs. Appreciation certificates were given on Saturday evening to those that have made the trip a minimum of three times, which added up to 10 honorees. Six others that could not make the trip due to illness or being out of town will be given theirs at another date.

We want to thank the following for their support and generosity: Helping Hands of Groveland, and Les Schwab Tire Oakdale. The following are the folks that made the trip and deserve special thanks, Marie Hastings, Dr. Debra McIntyre, Dr. Neil and Leslie Nebeker, Dr. Jose Bustos, Ralph and Silvana Tavares, Erwin and Sonya Schali, Dr. Tom and Karen Mihok, Dr. Ken Cosner, Brad Bates, Paula Brightman, Dr. Mel Tanner, Yvonne Desales, Sharon Hunt and Jim Goodrich … they helped make up a great team.