Los Amigos ready to help; kicks off with a Send-Off

Hosted by Rotary Club of Lethbridge Sunrise on Thursday, Oct. 4, from 7– 8:15 a.m. at the Nord-Bridge Senior Centre, (1904 – 13 Avenue North) in Lethbridge the Los Amigos Send-Off Breakfast will take place.

Vehicles depart at 8:15 a.m. Breakfast will be served at 7 a.m. - Pay at the door - $15 – Cash or cheque. The Los Amigos convoy of six vehicles will depart for Mexico at 8:15 a.m. on Oct. 4.

Join them for the Send-Off Breakfast and bid farewell to our 2018 project team.

Los Amigos is an international service project organized by Rotary Club of Lethbridge Sunrise.

Each year since 2011 Los Amigos has coordinated the donation of decommissioned Canadian vehicles to Mexican communities.

These vehicles are now in regular use for medical emergencies, fire fighting or transportation of young students and disabled individuals in Mexico.

Los Amigos is funded through Rotary and government grants, donations and sponsorships.

Rotary clubs in Mexico assist by identifying appropriate destinations for the vehicles.

Throughout the year Rotarians work diligently with their local communities to obtain donations of decommissioned vehicles, supplies and services.

The vehicles are inspected and made roadworthy.

Rotarians are recruited as volunteer drivers who make a seven-day, 3,800 km journey from Lethbridge to Mazatlan. Rotarians in Mexico welcome the Los Amigos team and host celebrations in each community that receives a vehicle.

An advanced training program was launched in 2015 and delivered in Mazatlan to help emergency medical technicians and firefighters develop their skills.

In turn, they offer training to their co-workers.

The Los Amigos training team consists of experienced trainers including licenced paramedic/ firefighters.

Topics include emergency medical services and firefighter training. Sessions and printed materials are offered in English and Spanish.

The next training program will be offered in 2019.