A terrific group of organizations and individuals in Mazatlán has organized an ad-hoc non-profit called “Mazatlán Comparte” or “Mazatlán Shares” to help us make it through this pandemic as effectively as possible. Participating organizations include:

• AMPI (Mexican Association of Realtors) Mazatlán
• Canacintra (National Chamber of the Transformation of Industry) Mazatlán
• Coparmex (Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic) Mazatlán
• Hospice Mazatlán
• IMSS Hospitals in Mazatlán
• ISSSTE Hospital Mazatlán
• Mazatlán Food Bank
• Mazatlán General Hospital
• Mazatlán Hotel Association
• Scouts (both Mazatlán groups and the retired Scouts)
• Sharp Hospital

More are joining everyday. Thus far Mazatlán has been blessed with very few cases. But our medical staff do not have the supplies they need to work safely, despite a new shipment of PPEs received by the Governor yesterday. As one of our members, the daughter of the head of the General Hospital and a lawyer here in town told me, “My father is 63 years old and suffered a heart attack a few years ago. We begged him to retire. He said, ‘No, my dear, this is when our people most need me active and helping out.’ Right then and there I committed myself to get them the protective equipment they need to get us through this crisis safely.”

Mazatlán Comparte is based on the successful effort in Culiacán, though fortunately we are a bit ahead of the curve here. We are cooperating with other municipalities in the state of Sinaloa to buy in bulk—cheaper and better quality!

We are collecting food and monetary donations via the Mazatlán Food Bank. The Food Bank has been experiencing huge demand due to widespread unemployment; on Thursday they served 580 families! They are able to buy food in bulk at good prices, so if you are a grower or producer, please donate in kind. If not, your monetary donation will make the most difference. If you are not easily able to donate to a Mexican bank account, you can use Xoom (a division of PayPal). Please help if you can!

Banco de Alimentos Mazatlán IAP

PayPal: 6692407916

Calle Río Pánuco 400
Col Ferrocarrilera
82013 Mazatlán, SInaloa
BAM-110101-EHA

Bank: BBVA/Bancomer
Account # 0199934960
Cuenta CLABE/Code: 01274400199934960 4

Tel: 669 981 2457
Email: info@bamazatlán.org.mx

The Food Bank is in the process of setting up a PayPal account to make it easier to donate. The medical supplies most in need are:

• Tyvek-type waterproof, long-sleeved coveralls with boots (like veterinarians wear)
• NIOSH-certified N95 masks
• Face shields with goggles
• Nitrile or latex disposable gloves

However, each overall costs over 500 pesos! If any of you have a contact at the manufacturer (DuPont) or access to a provider who could make these for us here in Mazatlán or México—they don’t need to be Tyvek, just waterproof—please help us out. They want XXL sizes so they’ll fit everyone. If not, please donate via Hospice Mazatlán, and we will bulk purchase PPEs with Culiacán and other municipalities in Sinaloa. Below is Hospice’s bank information. They are also working on setting up a PayPal account. Apparently since they are IAP organizations it’s not as easy as it would be for you or me.

Hospice Mazatlán IAP

PayPal account (BE SURE to indicate in “Comments” that it is for Mazatlán Comparte, so we can distinguish money for emergency medical supplies.)

Privada Intl. 208
Col Palos Prietos
82010 Mazatlán, Sinaloa

Bank: BANORTE
Account # 0279959328
Cuenta CLABE/Code: 072 744 002 799 593 288

Tel: 669-182-1486
Email: info@hospicemazatlan.org

In addition to the donation efforts above, we are working with the hospitals and our local hotel associations to obtain temporary housing for doctors, nurses and other medical care providers, in case of need during this crisis. We do not want them potentially infecting their families, despite their best sanitary efforts. We are also working on transportation between the hospitals and those temporary residences.

Please, everyone, our unemployed families and our first responders really need your assistance. Thank you so very much if you are able to help. It is my privilege to be able to help coordinate some of this, and I will do my best to get your questions answered.