Supporting the Underserved Families & Children of Tuxpan
Project Boon has been making a significant impact in Tuxpan Jalisco, Mexico, since 2016 through its holiday-based events that support underserved families in the region. The organization’s main focus is to address food insecurity and provide social services to the local community, especially during the holiday season. They organize food drives and distribute groceries to those in need, ensuring that everyone has access to food. Additionally, the organization provides goods such as school supplies and toys to children during Christmas time, making the holiday season more special for them. Through the tireless efforts of its volunteers, Project Boon has been able to make a positive difference in the lives of many families in the Barranca area of Tuxpan Jalisco.
About Operation Devolver
Operation Devolver events improve the lives of underserved families living in the town of Tuxpan by connecting them with committed volunteers, food, household necessities, back-to-school supplies, and children’s toys.
It’s a big idea that began in a small way. With a Styrofoam ball, in fact.
But we’ll get to that…
About Tuxpan
Tuxpan is located in the Mexico state of Jalisco. It is made up of communities that vary in economic prosperity, but each is filled with wonderful people who share a rich heritage and history.
Unfortunately, families in poorer areas of Tuxpan receive little in the way of government assistance and services. Their homes have no electricity or running water, and heavy rains collect in these places, making it difficult and dangerous to build proper infrastructure.
We decided that they shouldn’t have to do it alone.
Ana Karina and Christopher
Growing up in Tuxpan, Karina Suchánek (Vazquez) pursued her business degree from Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara. After completing her studies, she immigrated to the United States, where she worked hard to become the general manager of a Los Angeles-based restaurant chain. One of Karina’s proudest achievements was opening Hitch Burger, where she made the most of her opportunities. Today, she owns multiple restaurant locations throughout Southern California.
While excelling in the food industry, Karina met Chris Suchánek, the CEO of internet marketing company Firm Media Inc. Chris founded the company and directed its charitable efforts, including Eat and Be Well, which supported the underserved community in Southern California.
Karina and Chris’s shared passion for serving their community brought them together, leading them to start Project Boon, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and support to underserved communities in Southern California and Tuxpan. Together, they have been able to make a significant impact on the lives of many in need.
The Styrofoam Ball
Karina took Chris to visit Tuxpan in January 2012. As they celebrated time with her family, the two began learning about the town’s underserved population. One day, Karina’s relatives guided them to a poor area of Tuxpan, where they found a whole community in need.
Karina and Chris purchased groceries for the men, women, and children living there. The response they received passing out the food was, as Chris says, “overwhelming.”
Shortly before Chris and Karina ended their visit to this community, Karina saw a little girl playing a made-up game with the only toy that seemed available. It was a Styrofoam ball, waiting to be crushed by one misstep. As they left for home, Karina told Chris, “We need to bring toys next time.”
Operation Devolver
Chris and Karina decided to formalize these trips so that more people could make the mission their own. They called the events
“Operation Devolver.”
Devolver is the Spanish word for “return.” For Karina, it means an opportunity to go home with an even greater purpose. For the couple, it means a chance to give back the good fortune they have had. For those who have joined them, it is an opportunity to “return” the goodness they know and to provide help to those in need.
Participate in an Event
If you want a personal connection to the Operation Devolver mission, we invite you to join us for our next trip to Tuxpan. Typically, trips take over three-to-five days. Here’s a sample itinerary:
- Events begin with a flight into Guadalajara, Mexico, where a ground team meets us at the airport and takes us to
purchase supplies / pick up donations. - Next, the ground team transports us to our staging area in Tuxpan. There, we prepare packages of goods for individual families. They include grocery items, household goods, and toys for children.
- The following day, our team drives us to deliver packages to the underserved community in areas around Tuxpan. Participants have the opportunity to deliver these materials in person and to make a real connection with those in need.
After delivery, the ground team transports us back to our housing in Tuxpan where we stay the night. Our flight out of Mexico leaves from Guadalajara the next day.
Operation Devolver allows participants to experience the beauty and culture of Tuxpan and to help improve the overall community – as well as the lives of those who are receiving donations. Find out more about participating in our upcoming event.