It is a terribly poor and overpopulated country from what I understand. All sorts of them have to leave to be nurses etc. in Saudi Arabia and contract workers. People are required by the Catholic church to have families they can not feed. It is a continuing crisis that could be reveresed by the Catholic church if they would let loose of their cruel birth control policies, which at least one pope was about to do. There are also ongoing political revolutions. There are sugar plantations where the growers at least in the past could not make enough to feed their children. But they are very intelligent and hardworking people so there is hope.

I keep trying to think what is wrong with sending teddy bears and old shoes. Teddy bears could be used as pillows, insulation in bedding or houses, converted into chairs, stacked up for privacy screens. Old shoes certainly could be worn in areas with broken glass, snakes, sewage...desparate people could find uses for almost anything..not that money should not be sent...but there is a need for goods..preferably people would be advised to send what is needed..tarps, clothing, whatever..and some churches have contacts iwth other churches and can make the needs known.