THANKS to our hardworking volunteers and generous donors, 2025 was a very successful year SERVING OVER 1,000 PERSONS (unduplicated count) from families in need.  

1. Highest priority:  Provided school supplies to 824 students in kindergarten – universityFriends of Cozumel provided financial becas/scholarships to 61 first semester prepa/high school students and 15 university scholarships to pay for their tuition and/or internet access.  Scholarships were also provided to students for private English classes to supplement school English classes.

2. Our second priority was to support families with basic needs for food,  medication and transportation costs for health appointments, and safe drinking water. 

Provided 24 families drinking water systems for their homes.

Distributed food despensas  (dry food pantries) on request throughout the year. 

Provided a special pre-Christmas distribution of dispenses to 120 families and 24 mini despensas that benefitted a total of 458 individuals.

Other efforts to support health related needs to families included baby kits with  ecological (cloth) diapers; ecological feminine hygiene kits in educational programs for teen girls and women of all ages (estimated 30) and distribution 60 reading glasses. Provided financial help for medications and transportation for those who need to travel to the mainland for appointments to see med specialists.

These numbers don’t reflect four changes in the profile of the people we served:

1) Students who receive school supplies have aged from primarily kinder/kindergarden to high school and university (75 university students this past year);

2) 2/3 of the university students are young women.  Past years young men used to be the majority of students to attend school beyond secundaria/middle school. 

3) General support has shifted from young families to include those in the third generation (adults 50+). Cozumel does not have assisted living facilities like the US or Canada.  Here on the island. families take care of their own senior citizens but many families cannot absorb paying for senior citizens’  food, medical care and other basic needs;

4) Our help is needed by families who live in rural areas vs. only those who live in town.  This represents a shift of population.  Many families have a dream to acquire a small plot of land outside  town and build a modest home to escape the traffic and enjoy the quiet solitude of rural living.  This shift of population to include those in rural areas provides challenges for serving them as many do not have transportation to town.

In addition to the above changes in the profile of who we serve, we have now accomplished a longer term goal set years ago for volunteerism.  In 2025; 50% of our volunteers for events (school supply distribution, Christmas project) were local Mexican citizens. Prior to 2025; the majority of volunteers were US/ Canadian expats or visitors.  This is building leadership skills in the community as well as a feeling of pride and ownership helping families in need.     

Again, this couldn’t have been accomplished with all the wonderful donors and volunteers who helped to make this happen.

Wednesday (Jan 28) Randy and Debi helped us get off to a wonderful start assembling packets  of school supplies and papers for the distribution that will take place on July 30 & 31 this summer.  We were able to assemble the Kinder packets and package 25,000 sheets of white paper into packets of 100 sheets.

We have sessions scheduled for the next 3 Wednesdays (THANK YOU to the volunteers who have signed up).  

Following these next three weeks we will need to take a break as will be necessary to build up our inventory levels.   When we have sufficient quantities on hand we will then pack for university students as well as the CAM schools that serve students with disabilities and special needs.

Here is a list of items we still need to be able to prepare packets for these students…..

SUPPLIES

• 200  Hand held erasers
• 200  Glue sticks
• 200  Pencil sharpeners (with holders for shavings)
• 200  Red Pens
• 130  Scientific Calculators

BACKPACKS

• 15 Boys Small (Kinder thru 3^rd)
• 65 Girls Small (Kinder thru 3^rd)
• 30 Girls Medium (4^th thru-6^th)
• 100 Boys Large (Junior High thru University)
• 110 Girls Large (Junior High thru University)

We buy as many items as we can locally but sometimes we also need to purchase from suppliers outside of Mexico to stretch the funds we have available.   If you’re able to bring any of these items to us when you visit Cozumel we greatly appreciate it.   If you can buy locally that’s wonderful.   We also welcome donations that we use to purchase these directly.

P.S. We also need reading glasses.   We offer reading glasses to the local population that are especially appreciated by “third-generation” residents.    We provide them throughout the year and are need of the following quantities and strengths:

• (20) 1.00
• (20) 1.25
• (30) 2.25
• (20 3.50

If you have any questions at all, please contact us.    friendsofcozumel@outlook.com

Christmas Week is coming early to 120+ Cozumel families in need.  This week is the annual Friends of Cozumel Christmas Project.  The project focuses on the most basic need…not toys for children or gifts for adults…FOOD.  Dry food despensas/pantries that can feed a family of 4 for approximately 4-5 days will be provided to more than 120 families that face economic hardship plus ~24 homeless individuals will receive mini despensas. 

The despensas will be packed in strong reusable “market” bags made of upholstery fabric by Volunteer Christian Builders (Women’s Ministry) as part of their international mission efforts.   

Examples of the contents to be distributed by the volunteers include: Cloro (to clean/sanitize), multi-use soap, toilet paper, cooking oil, coffee, mayonnaise, tuna, beans, rice, tomato puree, pasta, spaghetti, maria (plain) cookies, special Christmas cookies, crackers, milk, chocolate powder (to make hot chocolate), small snack crackers to fill tummies especially for kids, canned corn, bread, jam, pan tostado/toasted bread, eggs, toothpaste. 

Thank you to the many donors, especially to Volunteer Christian Builders, for the monetary gifts we have received to bring hope to these families and individuals who will benefit from the food.  

All of the supplies have been transported over to Vida Abundante church for this year’s distribution.   The tables are setup, signs and directions posted in the appropriate places, volunteers have been scheduled for each session and the families have all been sent reminders that today and tomorrow (Friday) we will be distributing backpacks and supplies to this year’s group of students.

Beginning this afternoon and tomorrow, we will hold 3 sessions where we will distribute to 622 students in 6.5 hours.

This group is comprised of

• 622 students
• 347 families
• 95 “new” students
• 99 schools and universities

After 12 months of preparation we being the FUN part – distributing the supplies and receiving the sincere thank you’s (and hugs) from these students and their families.  

On Saturday, June 28 we had the pleasure of meeting a group that had arrived for the day on the Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas.   Sorority members from the Nu Upsilon Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority were visiting Cozumel and had selected Friends of Cozumel to receive a donation in accordance with their “Day of Service”.   

We met at Punta Langosta Mall near the pier where they had docked and Friends of Cozumel was presented with a check for $600.    This was a fabulous gift to receive as we have been purchasing quantities of white paper, colored paper, geometry sets and other supplies to bring our inventory levels where they need to be for this year’s distribution that will take place on July 24 and 25. 

Katrina Wrisper-Williams contacted us in November of last year expressing a desire to support Friends of Cozumel when they were going to visit Cozumel.   After debating the possibility of buying supplies it was decided to make a cash donation that would facilitate our ability to purchase exactly what would be needed for this year’s distribution

We salute the Nu Upsilon Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and sincerely thank them for their generosity!

There is no greater feeling than knowing you’ve helped make someone’s day a little better by lending a helping hand. Sometimes it is a simple greeting, smile or assistance in the form of food or school supplies in our case. When we distribute school supplies each year it is hard to express the feeling you get when you see the smiles on the faces of children and hear “gracias” from students and parents.

We also quickly learn that people who work together in these volunteer efforts become almost like a “second” family as we all strive to give of ourselves to help others. We can attest that some of our strongest friendships have come from this group. Ray and his wife, Sandy, have served together as members of the leadership team since the inception of Friends of Cozumel.

When we lose a valued member, it’s like losing family. Such is the case when our friend and co-worker, Ray Ham, passed away recently after a battle with cancer. Some people are natural leaders, always ready to step forward and voice ideas and direct others. Ray was a “behind the scenes” leader who continuously observed and assessed quietly. But when he spoke everyone knew his ideas would be well thought out, based on accurate information and helpful.

Ray loved the island of Cozumel and considered the island his to be his primary home. Education was a passion for him as he served on the scholarship committee for Friends of Cozumel and strongly encouraged students to better themselves and their families through education. He also started a program to distribute free reading glasses that benefitted hundreds of adults in need over the years.

We deeply miss Ray, his wisdom and his laughter. His family has requested memorials be directed for the Friends of Cozumel scholarship fund. See the Excerpts from his obituary below:

Ronald “Ray” Ham 08/19/1942 – 05/11/2025

Ronald “Ray” Ham of Bloomington, IN, 82, formerly of Brown County and Linton, IN, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on May 11, 2025. He and his wife of 57 years, Sandra Stewart Ham, retired and lived in Cozumel, Mexico for 20 years. He loved horseback riding in his younger years, and he loved spending as much time as he could with his and Sandy’s many friends on the Island, and at the beach in a chair enjoying the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. He is survived by his wife, daughters Toni Ham Stuller (Craig), Nuria Caravajal (Omar Borges), and Samantha Caravajal, and his beloved grandson Marty Stuller, as well as his puppy, Maya. He was preceded in death by his parents Norman and Rosalie Ham, his brother Norman E. Ham, and his father and mother-in-law Charles and Leatha Stewart.

Ray and Sandy were deeply involved with Friends of Cozumel volunteer group for 15 years, especially with the education of the children and helping families in need. The family requests that donations be made payable to “Friends of Cozumel” to fund scholarships for the local children of Cozumel. Please note “Ray Ham Memorial” on your check and mail to Friends of Cozumel, 2783 Kinsington Circle, Weston, FL 33332. Donations can also be made via PayPal. https://friendsofcozumel.com

Per Ray’s wishes, he will be cremated, and his ashes will be returned to his beloved Cozumel and spread into the beautiful Caribbean Sea.

Friends of Cozumel is honored to support the education of children in Cozumel and success is largely due to donors who continue to support us financially.  We continue to hear from organizations that learn of our efforts and want to learn how they can contribute.

This was the case when we received a message from Emily Burroughs, Vice President of Communications & Culture of BGSF.    Emily explained the opportunity to us: “Each year, our Diamond Club honors top-performing team members with a once-in-a-lifetime experience to recognize their outstanding achievements. And for the third consecutive year, our Be Good Do Good initiative was at the heart of this unforgettable journey—because true success is about lifting others as we rise. Each year, we select a charitable cause in our host destination to give back to the local community—because we believe in traveling with purpose.“

Emily went on to explain that this year, their Diamond Club honorees would be setting sail on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Cozumel. In partnership with their cruise provider, they directed $3,200 from their group room revenue to benefit Friends of Cozumel.

• $1,600 will go toward local purchases of school supplies
• $1,600 will fund scholarships—covering nearly 18 semesters of high school or university tuition

Friends of Cozumel is extremely grateful to BGSF for their generous support.

BGSF is a nationwide company that provides multiple services that include recruiting, executive searches, property management and others.

In a touching display of kindness, a group of visitors led by Tommie Cato arrived in Cozumel aboard the Independence of the Seas on January 28, bringing with them more than just a tourist’s curiosity—they came with a mission. During a previous visit, Tommie had connected with a local mother whose child attended CAM Escolar, an elementary school dedicated to children with special needs. Inspired by their conversation, a group of Friends of First Baptist Church in Salisbury, North Caroloina decided to make a meaningful contribution to the school.

The school’s director pointed out that while the children enjoyed outdoor recess, the school lacked proper play equipment. It was quickly agreed that a donation should go toward acquiring a playset—something the children could enjoy for years to come.

Assembly day arrived on April 23, bringing together a team of dedicated individuals, including Friends of Cozumel (FOC) volunteers and a local family consisting of a father and his three sons. Armed with an 83-page instruction manual and faced with hundreds of screws, bolts, and specialty parts, the determined group worked to bring the playset to life.

In addition to completing the structure, extra funds from the donation will go toward installing a shade cover to protect the children from the sun. While the school is currently closed, meaning no children were available for a celebratory photo with the new playset, it’s only a matter of time before their laughter fills the playground.

Though those who built the structure may not be as cute as the kids who will enjoy it, their efforts and generosity have ensured that the students of CAM Escolar will have a brighter, more joyful outdoor experience for years to come. A wonderful example of how small gestures can leave a lasting impact on a community.

In the vibrant community of Cozumel, the expression “many hands make light work” truly comes to life, especially thanks to the spirited involvement of volunteers. Recently, we had the privilege of working with two remarkable families visiting the island as part of a cruise. Their enthusiastic wish to contribute by providing school supplies and engaging in hands-on service—was the catalyst for an inspiring day.

Every year, we distribute pre-assembled packets of school supplies, tailored to meet the specific needs of each grade level.  It takes considerable time to organize and assemble these packets and typically, we work with groups of 5-7 volunteers. 

On April 2nd, we experienced a delightful surge of energy when Ty Fletcher and his extended family—comprising 15 eager individuals including their grandmother, a former first-grade teacher.  The families brought much-needed supplies purchased from the local Sam’s Club. We assembled supply packets for various educational levels. In under two hours, our dedicated volunteers completed all packets for Primaria (Elementary Levels 1-3, 4-5, and 6), as well as those for Secundaria (Junior High) and Prepa (High School). What a significant achievement!

We still need to complete packets for Kindergarten, University, and special-needs schools.  The Fletchers and their family’s generous contributions not only jumpstarted our packet assembly but also set an uplifting tone for our overall preparation for the school distribution on July 24th and 25th.

Our work as a community-focused organization would be impossible without volunteers’ time, resources, and commitment. Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor to our beautiful island, your willingness to contribute makes a substantial impact. Every little effort counts, and together we can ensure that many children in Cozumel are equipped with the tools they need to succeed.

Recently, we received a wonderful donation of backpacks, school supplies and cash to assist in our upcoming school supply distribution that will take place in July. VACAYA clients on the RCL Brilliance of the Seas met volunteers from Friends of Cozumel after arriving at the international pier with 60 backpacks, scientific calculators, colored pencils, pencil sharpeners and many, many more items.

We also were blessed to receive cash donations from many of these travelers as well as a significant cash gift from VACAYA. This money will be used to purchase supplies locally that include paper products, scissors, erasers and geometry sets.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION!

This is the latest group of supplies we were blessed to receive this past week from Cozumel Bar Hop patrons. Thank you to Cozumel Bar Hop for their continued support of children in Cozumel!

It is hard to believe that this year’s distribution is only five months away and we are carefully monitoring our supply counts in anticipation of being able to serve 825+ students for the next school year 2025/26. We have groups coming that have pledged to bring donations as well as individuals who have offered extra room in their suitcases for supplies. We also are receiving donations via our Paypal button for the many supplies that we buy locally. In fact, we anticipate that this year, we will spend more money with local merchants that we ever have.

As we review our supply inventory we have identified the following items that we still need:

• Backpacks – Girls Kinder thru 3rd grade (60)
• Backpacks – Boys Secundaria thru University – 17-18″ size (130)
• Glue sticks (140)
• Pencil sharpeners (100)
• Colored pencils – 12 count (125)
• Pens – black (600)
• Pens – blue (200)
• Pens – red (125)
• Correction tape (200)

Because we plan to purchase more locally we also appreciate your financial support. Feel free to write us at friendsofcozumel.com if you can help us in in-kind donations or financial gifts. Together we are all making a difference in the lives of local families by keeping their children in school. THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS

It is hard to believe that we are now less than 6 months from this year’s distribution!

The actual dates for distribution will be THURSDAY JULY 24 and FRIDAY JULY 25.

• We are in the process of collecting supplies and updating our inventory counts to determine what is still needed most.
• Soon, we will be scheduling volunteer sessions to assemble packets of supplies that go to each grade group.
• If you are traveling soon to Cozumel and have room to bring supplies or would like to make a local purchase please contact us.   We also are collecting funds to buy paper products locally.
• If you would like to participate as a volunteer with the actual distribution contact us now.

ALL INQUIRIES CAN BE MADE VIA EMAIL or by private message on our Facebook page: Friends of Cozumel

The Worldwide Christian Scuba Diver’s Organization visited Cozumel last week to dive and serve the community in various ways.  Their service efforts included a wide array of work to benefit the community:

Painting the exterior and selected parts of the interior for Centro de Autismo, a facility that provides therapy for youth on the spectrum and parent education

THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS FROM WORLDWIDE CHRISTIAN SCUBA DIVERS ORGANIZATION!

On June 1st, sixteen water systems that filter out the impurities in the ground water and tap water were delivered to local families living in an area called “The Ranchitos” which is located on the transversal road that runs between the East and West sides of the island.

Having these systems will eliminate the expense of purchasing purified water and provides some economic relief for these families. This group of water systems was delivered by Judy Buchanan Campagna and her group #TogetherWeAREMakingADifference. It’s wonderful when different groups can collaborate to jointly help local families that need additional support.

This type of effort would not be possible without the contributions of many people and organizations. Worldwide Christian Scuba Divers has been providing water filters to Friends of Cozumel for 4+ years. Another organization, Everybody Fed has also provided us with funding to purchase materials and supplies to make the bases and purchase the buckets. Lastly, many of our volunteers have participated in constructing the wooden stands and assembling the filters and faucets.

To date, Friends of Cozumel has placed over 200 water systems with local families.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVA AND GLENN FOR PROVIDING SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR US!

We were asked to keep them up to date on future needs as more visits are planned in the future. THANK YOU!

In February we received a message from Sharyn Friesen.   “I know that at times it is difficult to get all of the school supplies you need delivered.    I have found an attractive price for a roundtrip flight from Houston to Cozumel and I would be willing to bring you two checked bags of school supplies if that would help out.”

We were thrilled at this idea and Sharyn’s generosity so we gladly accepted and immediately made a wish list that donors could purchase from and ship the supplies directly to her.   Sharyn arrived in Cozumel on May 12 with 100 pounds of school supplies which included 86 Backpacks, 60 boxes of colored pencils, 390 pens and 250 pencil pouches.  The pencil pouches are hand-made by the women from Volunteer Christian Builders (They have provided us with pencil pouches every year for 8+ years for a total of over 4,000 pencil pouches a well as other market bags, gift bags, and other items).  Sharyn also brought us cash donations which will be used to purchase a number of supplies from local merchants here in Cozumel.

As planned, Sharyn was here for less than 24 hours and on May 13 she was at the airport to return to Houston. She left us overjoyed with our latest donation and the fact that she plans to return in July to personally help us with this year’s distribution to the children!

We now have a new title . . .  “School Supply Runner”

We enjoy hearing from people whom we have never met and are inquiring about donating school supplies towards our annual distribution.   This was the case when we received an email from Mary Powlen, President-elect of the Garland, Texas chapter of Altrusa, a non-profit organization dedicated to service projects that improve the educational, economic, and quality of life outcomes of communities around the world. Mary explained to me that Shirley Raymer, the District governor of Altrusa for the state of Texas, is a frequent visitor to Cozumel and their chapter was interested in contributing to our School Supply Distribution project.

We are very grateful for this wonderful donation of calculators, highlighters, dry-erase markers and pens! Thank you to Altrusa for your support!

Do you want to help with our school supply program but are not traveling here anytime soon or you don’t have space in your luggage?   Here are three ways that you can help.

CASH DONATIONS

1. You can receive a year-end statement for tax deductions by mailing your check to a church that passes 100% of the money to Friends of Cozumel.  Make the check payable to “Nacogdoches Community Church” and note the purpose (i.e. “School Supplies”) in the memo line.   Then mail the check to:

2. If you want to donate without the ability to deduct it on your taxes,make the check payable to “Friends of Cozumel” and note the purpose (i.e. “School Supplies”) in the memo line.  Mail it directly to our U.S. address.

DIRECT PURCHASES

If you are not traveling to Cozumel or don’t want to pack it in your luggage, you can order through your Amazon account by using amazon.com.mx.   You can ship to one of their drop off sites that include Donasusa stores, Estafeta and DHL Express.  When you receive notice from Amazon the product was delivered, forward us that notice plus the QR code for us to pick it up in Cozumel.

Steps to add a drop-off location in Cozumel to your account’s address book

1.  Go to www.amazon.com.mx/ulp
2. Enter “Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico” in the search box

• From the list of locations we recommend either location #2 (Estafeta) or location #5 (Donasusa nueva Cozumel 1).

Now that this is in your address book, you can purchase on the amazon.com.mx site and notify us regarding delivery.

If you have questions about this information please contact Larry Pedersen PEDERSENLL@HOTMAIL.COM / 01-515-249-9241

As we head into 2024 we are preparing for the distribution of school supplies for the 2024-25 school year.   In the coming weeks we will begin assembling school packets for this year’s distribution which will take place in July 22 & 23.    Last year, we were able to provide backpacks and school supplies to over 800 students and we hope to do the same for the upcoming year.  In order to do so, we still need additional supplies.

Here is a list of items we need.   If you are coming to Cozumel in the coming months and are willing to put some supplies in your suitcase or backpack we are providing a description as well as links to Amazon’s site with some of the best prices we’ve found.  You can contact Larry Pedersen (PEDERSENLL@HOTMAIL.COM) or via phone (515) 249-9241.   We will make arrangements to meet you if you are visiting on a cruise or coming to vacation in Cozumel.

REGULAR SIZE GLUE STICKS – NEED 100

Amazon.com : Amazon Basics Purple Washable School Glue Sticks, Dries Clear, 0.24-oz Stick,60-Pack  

BLACK PENS – NEED 300

Amazon.com : Rarlan Highlighters, Chisel Tip, Fluorescent Yellow, 72 Count Bulk Pack… : Office Products

BLUE PENS – NEED 200

Amazon.com : BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Blue Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm), 36-Count Pack of Bulk Pens, Flexible Round Barrel for Writing Comfort, No. 1 Selling Ballpoint Pens

YELLOW HIGHLIGHTERS – NEED 200

Amazon.com : Thenshop 100 Pcs Yellow Pocket Style Highlighters Bible Highlighter Gel Highlighters Highlighters for Bible Pages No Bleed Thin Highlighters for Adults Kids Highlighting in the Home School

SCIENTIFIC CALCULATORS – NEED 80

Amazon.com : RENUS 8 Packs, 2-Line Engineering Scientific Calculator Function Calculator for Student and Teacher 16 AAA Batteries Included  

ENGLISH/SPANISH DICTIONARIES – NEED 40

Amazon.com: Merriam-Webster Webster’s Spanish-English Dictionary for Students, Second Edition (English and Spanish Edition): 9781596951655: Editors of Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster

BACKPACKS  We are also in need of backpacks for July’s distribution.   Specifically, we need the following

55 Small backpacks for Kinder–3^rd grade boys

25 Small backpacks for Kinder-3^rd grade girls

110 Large (19”) backpacks for Secundaria (Middle School) – University boys

115 Large (19”) backpacks for Secundarai (Middle School) – University girls

Meet Veronica Pool, an amazing single mom who works cleaning homes. She is determined to earn her prepa (high school) degree. Veronica is an excellent role model for her three children (one in primaria/elementary; two in secundaria/middle school).  She attends Saturday classes at Bachilleres, a Cozumel prepa known to be one of the best academic high schools to prepare students for college.  Veronica receives a “beca” scholarship from Friends of Cozumel to help pay tuition.  Many of our students who receive becas are truly breaking barriers by being the first generation in their families to attend high school and university.

Sixty-nine students received becas this fall semester; 51 high students and 18 college students.  Most of these students receive becas from the general FOC Scholarship fund; a few selected students also receive private scholarships from donors. 

Prepa student becas are $1,300 pesos (about $77 USD @ FX 16.8) per semester.  High school students are required to pay “inscripcion” (tuition) fees each semester. Their high school will automatically enroll them to receive a government scholarship that their family will receive in November or December so the students can use this to pay for tuition and other school expenses until they graduate.

University becas are $1,800 pesos (about $107 US) per semester for full-time tuition or some students use becas to pay for internet service at their home since much of their work is online.  Friends of Cozumel supports a total of 63 university students with school supplies; 65% are young women.  Examples of careers university students are using the becas to achieve:  accounting, bio-medical engineering, food/beverage, business administration, nursing, nutrition, teaching, tourism, etc.

Becas are also available to students of all ages to take English classes that supplement what they learn in school.  The ability to understand and speak conversational English is a huge advantage here to get a job supporting the tourism industry. 

Special THANKS to our donors who fund the scholarship program.  It is a wonderful investment that enables individuals and their families to become self-sufficient.