Hester J Hodgdon Libraries for All

Leveraging the power of education and literacy to enhance community vitality.

The Good News, the Sad News, and Progress in Between

The Good News: HJH Matching Grant Extended Through September 30th

Summer Matching Grant extension in lieu of the Annual BP Matching Grant

We are extremely grateful to announce we have been given the opportunity to extend our Summer Matching Grant to September 30th. Donations made from July 4th to the end of September will be matched!

One of the reasons we have requested the extension is that the BP Matching grant will not occur this year or in the future. This grant is a courtesy for employees of BP to work with charities of their choice. Our friend and longtime supporter, Craig Deaves, has retired from BP, and we would like to wish him much retirement happiness and thank him for the many years of service. His hours of service provided the opportunity for a matching financial support Grant. Thank you Craig!

We know many of our supporters wait for this fall matching grant to donate, and this is that opportunity now. Please give now with our extended matching grant. We will continue to search for new matching grant opportunities as they double the difference you can make as a donor and the difference we can provide as a foundation.

Please consider making a donation to the Hester J. Hodgdon Libraries For All Foundation to support our ongoing efforts in Nicaragua.

We are registered as Hester J. Hodgdon Libraries for All.
Please donate today with the PayPal or JustGiving buttons above
OR by check made payable to:

HJH Programs
1716 Del Norte Ave.
Loveland, CO 80538

Update on the COVID-19 situation in Nicaragua:

As we noted in our August newsletter, the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths reported by the Nicaraguan government vary widely from those by independent sources.

Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center
Data reported are retrieved from the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health (MINSA).

Observatorio Ciudadano Nicaragua
The COVID-19 Citizen Observatory is an interdisciplinary, collaborative effort that gathers information from organizations, networks, and citizens of Nicaragua. The mission of Observatorio Ciudadano is to fill the gap in information on the situation of COVID-19 in Nicaragua.

Progress:

The staff of the San Juan del Sur Biblioteca have been facilitating provisions provided with funding from the Rockwall, Texas Rotary Club, the Keene, NH Rotary Interact high school group, and Council Tree Covenant Church in Fort Collins, CO.

Several communities received COVID-19 relief support through Rotary International’s acceptance of the Rockwall/San Juan del Sur Rotary Club’s proposal to redirect funds from their water and sanitation grant to Coronavirus relief efforts.

Through the Rockwall COVID Grant, San Juan Del sur Rotarians have given safety and hygiene equipment to doctors and healthcare workers providing COVID home care.

Included supplies:

Face masks
Gloves
Face shields
Alcohol
Goggles
Protective gowns
Thank you handouts

Council Tree Covenant Church, Ft Collins CO supports COVID Relief in Ameya Nicaragua:

Community COVID Relief for this small northern Nicaraguan community was provided by Iglesia Missionaria Nueva Generation Church and the Instituto Amelia Mendoza school in Ameya, Nicaragua with support from their sister church, Council Tree Covenant Church, Ft Collins, CO.

May, July, and August 2020 HJH Foundation newsletters

We have taken the opportunity to share this newsletter with friends and supporters not on our regular mailing before now. So we are providing the links to our recent updates for your convenience.

You can read more about the Nicaraguan communities we serve and the projects we are currently coordinating in the May and August newsletters that are posted in the HJH Libraries for All newsletter archive.

May 2020 newsletter

July 2020 newsletter

August 2020 newsletter

Notice: If you’d like to unsubscribe from these mailings click here.

The Sad News:

We have some sad news to report. Jane’s house in San Juan del Sur was recently robbed. All material goods that could reasonably be sold were removed from the house. This is a sign of the desperate times in Nicaragua, much of which is due to the economic devastation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Jane is incredibly thankful that no one staying at the house was at home at the time, and no one was injured.

This house, which overlooks the town and from where one can visually experience the San Juan bay in the distance, is a magical place and a metaphor for the incredible work of the Biblioteca and HJH Libraries Foundation. It holds vivid and lively memories for the hundreds of people who visited and stayed there over the years. Jane has decided, considering the expense of having to refurbish the house completely, not to continue renting the house after the first of the year. She is requesting stories from those of us whose experiences intersected with visits and stays at her home.

A few memories of a very special place:

I remember the many dinners our study abroad students had at your house, walking up the hill from the Villa Isabella, sitting out in the veranda sipping margaritas, and enjoying scrumptious Nica food. The students hung on every word you said as you recounted your history and stories about the Library and its many services. And I don’t know if you recall, but one year you had secretly purchased and brought tofu from the States and had it cooked specially for me, because you had discovered I was a vegetarian. I remember that evening as if it were yesterday!

Patricia Herron, University of Maryland, HJH Foundation Vice President

“Linda Vista” “Beautiful View” is not what we see and fall in love with, it is a house in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua that holds many stories and anecdotes both good and not so good. The house “Linda Vista” was for many years the home of Jane Mirandette, the Director of the Mobile Library; it was also a house filled with love and the love of home, that welcomed many volunteers; a dream house for many! After years of living and celebrating with those who stayed there, our “Linda Vista” now fades away and with great sadness we say goodbye to her and all the memories that were made there. You may wonder why this is, if such wonderful memories exist there? Yes, it is true! The possessions in “Beautiful View” were stolen in their entirety leaving only the walls and the lived stories. Unemployment and the situation in the country have led to all this and sometimes events require sad but wise decisions. Linda Vista we carry you in our hearts!

Heidy Herrera, SJDS Library Director

I remember the first time I was invited to Jane’s house in San Juan Del Sur. It was at the end of our initial implementation for a digital catalog system and staff training. It was an opportunity to mingle and get to know the staff in a relaxed environment filled with joy and delicious food. Life itself is about moving forward. I will miss the house and all the wonderful memories I shared with staff and volunteers over the years in such a special place.

Victor Zuniga, Poudre River Public Library District

I will always remember the warmth and camaraderie we experienced as we sat in the house, UMD library school students and Jane, as she recounted the success and challenges in pursuing her mission and inspiring us all of the power of one! The house was the physical embodiment of Jane’s vision that can never be destroyed!

Lily Griner, University of Maryland

Casa Linda Vista became my second home throughout my many visits to San Juan del Sur. I have curled up with a good book in the hammock on the porch, watched countless sunsets over the bay, and woke up to the screechings of howler monkeys and neighboring roosters. I will never forget Jane teaching me how to make homemade chicken soup in the kitchen while also teaching the Spanish term for all of the ingredients. Although we will no longer have the house where so many memories were made, I will always have that recipe – a symbol of the comfort Jane’s little house provided and the memories that were made.

Jill Gramling, Volunteer since 2012

This week is a very sad week for me because the lease on this beautiful house is ending. In this house there have been many activities and we have had very good experiences during the past 20 years. There have been visitors from many places and many birthdays, Christmases, and library anniversaries have been celebrated here. We will no longer be able to feel the warmth of this house. It has given us so much and we are very sad that this will no longer be the case. This house has been very important to my boss, Jane Mirandette, because while living here she was able to conceive of the many projects for this San Juan del Sur community. Thank you, Jane for allowing me to be part of these projects and to be a part of this house. Thank you very much and many blessings for the “Linda Vista” house.

Edwin Vasquez, SJDS Library Manager

This house represents the many years of goodwill and good works which the Biblioteca and the Foundation accomplished. It will always hold a special place in our hearts, and its memory will remain with us as we continue our important work.

By: Patricia Herron, HJH Foundation Vice President

A final note from Jane:

I want to pause a moment to thank our Advisors and staff for their input in this newsletter . While the loss of the use of the Casa Linda Visa house is a small loss, it is one of many for all of us in these current days. I am very thankful for the advisors and staff and all of you who have been part of our HJH Program these many years. We are still able to provide full salaries for the SJDS staff and as you can see, are participating in the many COVID relief projects listed in the articles here. Thank you. We are extending the Matching Grant through September to replace our BP Matching grant of past years and are delighted to let those who have donated in these past days know their donations still counted! Please help us keep on keeping on if you are able. In these days of uncertainty world wide, we are taking responsibility for our small part in staying steady and helping where we can.

Stay safe, stay well and take good care,
Jane