Veronica's Guatemalan Eco-Volunteer Trip

08/13/2016

Bake sale is 36 hours away and the preparations have begun! First up, 30 mini cheesecakes (15 strawberry and 15 lemon). Sweet, refreshing, and perfect for summer. Pick yours up this Sunday at noon outside of Assumption Chapel in St. Mary's University.

07/22/2016

Great news! The date for the bake sale has been set. It will be at 12pm on Sunday August 14th outside of Assumption Chapel / Reinbolt Hall at St. Mary's University. I am looking for donations of baked goods and a set up team so if you're interested in helping out please send me a private message with your e-mail address and I will be sending out more information.

07/20/2016

Its been a week since we started this project and the pledges and donations have started to trickle in. Thank you for everyone who has brought forward their support!

I am still working out the details for a bake sale and considering other fundraising opportunities so stay tuned through this page!

On todays Hug It Forward Update I wanted to share a video that shows the whole cycle of building a Bottle School.

It is amazing to see how complex and multifaceted this project can be! It starts with children learning to recycle and keeping their environment clean by collecting the plastic for the project.

Then everyone works together to build the frame of the school. Those who don't know about construction learn the necessary skills which prepares them for potential job opportunities.

Once the frame is ready, the plastic bottles, which the children have been filling with their own excitement and hopes, are attached to the frame.

In the end everyone's hard work has put together a beautiful school that is more than just a building, it is something they built together and that they can all be proud to call their own.

I cannot wait to be a part of this! Thank you all for your support on this journey.

www.hugitforward.org ~ 3 Months of filming compressed into a 3 minute video: An overview of the hard work, dedication, win-wins, and excitement surrounding B...

07/13/2016

Help me reach my goal of $1,500! No donation is too small. The link to my "Go Fund Me" is below, you can also send donations through PayPal, Chase QuickPay and WellsFargo SurePay to "[email protected]". Cash and check donations also accepted, contact me directly to set those up.

And if you can't donate thats cool too, help spread the word by inviting your friends or "Like" my page to show your moral support and get updates on how this journey goes.

My name is Veronica Lopez, I work at LUSH Cosmetics as a Sales Associate and have a passion for community service, education and Latin America. I have been accepted to volunteer with LUSH's Charity Pot partner organization "Hug It Forward". This opportunity will allow me to spend a week helping...

07/13/2016

Have you ever thought about what will become of all our plastic waste? Are you tired of hearing how it could take over our planet and the damage its causing our eco-system?

I do and I am and that is why I love projects that involve recycled plastic.

For those who may not know me, my name is Veronica, I am 26 years old.

On July 9th I found out I had been accepted to attend an International Volunteer Trip. This is going to be a very exciting trip to Guatemala to work with a non-profit called "Hug It Forward" (HIF). HIF builds schools out of recycled plastic bottles that have been filled with other non-biodegradable plastic waste. These serve to insulate the classrooms and put recycled plastic to work for the benefit of rural communities in Guatemala.

I am very lucky to have been chosen for this opportunity, but it also means I have to reach a goal of $1,500 (or as I like to think of it, 75 $20 donations). If I exceed this goal, I will be donating the remainder of the funds to Hug It Forward to support future construction sites.

I have set up a Go Fund Me page (https://www.gofundme.com/2dx3f748) and am also looking into other fundraising opportunities.

I made this page as a hub for my supporters where I will post information about upcoming fundraisers, ways to donate, facts about what and why I am doing this, and once the trip is complete I hope to share a post about my experience and of course lots of pictures!