Past Action Alerts

By Robert Terenzi, Jr.

On my third day in León, Nicaragua, I made a spectacular find in the local market. Weaving my way through stands overflowing with bright papayas, mangos, and watermelon, I was eagerly greeted by most of the merchants. As a gringo, my white skin, not yet tan, attracted quite a bit of attention. I enjoy walking through local markets, the pace is bustling, and the energy of the people there is contagious. I still remember the first time I saw Mercedes; sitting on a small stool at the end of a long, dark, and dusty row of fruit stands. An elderly, overweight woman, she had an air of authority and solemnity. Her stand was more crowded than the others, and as I approached, I saw her earnestly trying to keep up with her eager customers, methodically ladling various fresh juices into small plastic bags with ice. Her fingers tied off each expertly, and passed them on in exchange for a few cordobas.

November 2004

• Donate money to go towards purchasing school supplies and food for the preschools (Call Jessica Smith, PML’s executive director, at 612-251-9634).

• Donate clothing and other items to