Food for Mayan Families in Guatemala

In the central highlands of Guatemala, Plenty is funding Asociacion Desarollo Integral de Belen (Association for the Integral Development of Belen) (ADIBE) to deliver needed food and supplies to Kaqchikel Maya families and especially elders in the community of Molino Belen in the Department of Solola. ADIBE began as the “soy dairy” Plenty helped build and equip in 1979 as part of our response to the 1976 earthquake that devastated Guatemala killing over 22,000 and leaving over a million homeless.

The Kaqchikels are the second largest of Guatemala’s 23 indigenous groups. The families and elders in Molino Belen are receiving cooking staples and household essentials like black beans, oatmeal, salt, cooking oil, sugar, detergent, soap, and toilet paper, as well as milk and tofu from ADIBE’s soy processing facility.  

In Guatemala in there has been little to no government support provided to individuals and families during the Covid-19 crisis. People over age 60 have also been restricted from going to outdoor markets or indoor stores. Elders who live alone rely on family or others to provide essentials.