When the doors of Casa Grande opened at 11 a.m. on Sunday, February 15, members of the public were greeted by a huge display of new and used clothing, household items, pet equipment and supplies, miscellaneous surprises, and even some construction materials.
Three separate sections offered contrasting wares. The Grand Bazaar, overseen by Liz Carranza and Vicki Wagner, featured a huge assortment of donated items. Among them were some amazing bargains, such as name-brand clothing, which discerning shoppers pounced on. The Collectibles Corner, assembled by Sandra Ward, offered antiques and unusual treasures from foreign lands. And Terri’s Tiny Tiendita, created by Terri Rasmussen, presented a huge selection of beautiful gift items at very affordable prices.
Contributing to the festivity were our two bartenders, Mario Arellano and Gabriel Ramírez, who offered shoppers beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages at our no-host bar. To everyone’s delight, Suzy Thompson, our former tienda organizer, was there from the U.S. and helped our bartenders attract customers.
Outside the building a lot was going on too. Volunteers, Susan Pataky and Joslyn Lewis, served many varieties of delicious, hot focaccia they had prepared. A food truck owned by Rafael Herbert offered tacos, hamburgers, and other delicious items.
Our friends from Fundación Corazón Animal were there, too, with some darling rescued puppies for adoption. Several of the puppies went to new homes.
The event raised $67,418 pesos (US $3,890) for our sterilization and education program. And it had a multiplier effect: we donated unsold merchandise from the Grand Bazaar to Arco Iris, another Guanajuato charity that helps families in need.
Our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the event’s success. Those include everyone who donated items for our Grand Bazaar and Collectibles Collection; Terri Rasmussen, whose re-creation of her Tiny Tiendita was stunning; Jeffrey and Siwsan Gimprich, who graciously stored our inventory as it increased during previous months; our sherpas Cristobal Arellano, Hanna Dixon and her friend, Tom Dunne, Stephen and Mary Haskett, Charles Huckaby, Arlene and Don Lang, Veronique Marconnet, Gabo Ramírez, Kate Redman, and Terry Woodruff, who carried the inventory from the Gimprich home to Case Grande or helped set it up; our in-store sales people Dyan Amirault, Mary Beth Canavan, Liz Carranza, Mary Haskett, Pat Heinke, Jann Lee, Arlene Lang, Maureen Neeley, Terri Rasmussen, Kate Redman, Vicki Wagner, Sandra Ward, and Terry Woodruff; Amigos treasurer Joslyn Lewis, who bought the drinks; bartenders Mario Arellano and Gabriel Ramírez; and Joslyn Lewis and Susan Pataky for making and serving the focaccia. The event could not have taken place at Casa Grande without the use of its salón de fiestas, generously offered to us by owner Ricardo Herbert and his staff. Finally, we thank everyone who came to the fiesta and spent money!