Hogar de Mercedes de Jesus Molina Orphanage

Through a partnership with Peruvian Hearts, an organization founded by a young Peruvian woman named Ana Dodson, the Collette Foundation is able to support the Hogar de Mercedes de Jesus Molina Orphanage. After being adopted as a baby from Cusco, Peru, Ana was raised in Colorado. She returned to Peru with her Mom at the age of 11 and was deeply touched by her experience visiting an orphanage. Upon her return she mobilized the local rotary and other groups to raise funds and collect toys, dolls, books, etc, to bring to the girls. To date she has won many awards and continues her great works.

Hogar de Mercedes is located in the Sacred Valley of Peru, and houses 19 girls currently. The focus of the Hogar de Mercedes is education and health, providing the tools necessary for the girls to continue on to higher education.

Aside from the orphanage the Hogar de Mercedes also runs a large lunch program for disadvantaged children in the local community. Each day nearly 90 children are fed a hot lunch at the Hogar, this often making up their only hot meal of the day.

Peru Task Force Update May 2008: The Peru Task Force is working to mobilize the team for their service trip in May to visit the Hogar de Mercedes. They will fund the purchase of the supplies to renovate their classroom and playroom. Employees and others will spend the afternoon painting and organizing these two sections of the Hogar de Mercedes. November 2007: The Hogar de Mercedes purchased their first solar energy panels allowing them to have hot water! August 2007: Planning has begun for the construction of a new building at the Hogar de Mercedes. The new building will house a properly ventilated kitchen, laundry facilities and a new dining hall for the lunch program. The funding has been approved for the Collette Foundation to become a major donor to this large project.