my first time visiting the young mother with her new baby girl. Some of you might have heard that I won best in show of a photograph I have taken of a young mother who lives in the landfill of La Chureca for Skyway, a collegiate juried competition between several community colleges around the area.  It was a true honor to be competing amongst so many young and talented artists.  After winning the show, Waubonsee College, the college that I was taking photography lessons from then, bought both of my photos that were in the show. 

I wanted to give something back to the subjects of my photo that won me best in show.  So after talking to Lillian Hall, the co-ordintor of Pronica, we decide that the best way to give back to them without causing tension and rift within the community or associating me with gift giving was to say that because I posted that photo of her on the internet, people started sending me money to help her.  After visiting her house and her new baby yesterday morning, we asked her what she needed for her baby.  She said basically she needed food and milk for the baby.  I did my shopping and got her what I thought she needed later thatsome gifts for the baby. day with Carmen, my translator. 

The mother was very surprised and happy for the gifts.  Even though we made it clear that the gifts did not come directly from me, they were asking me for money to buy gasoline and plastic for the roofs to prevent the rain from dropping on their beds afterwards.  It broke my heart to have to say, "no, I do not have money to give," because it was true.  I am planning to go back there to work with the children and I just do not want them to associate me with money giving or gift giving. 

There are just so many needs and people are always needing something...and the subject of the day seems to be money.  I am feeling overwhelmed and wondering how much more can I do?  what else can I do?