Our Mission Became Clear
In the small town of Los Barriles, Baja Sur, a group of friends witnessed firsthand how difficult it can be for local families to consistently access basic food needs. Rather than look away, they came together with a clear purpose: to find a meaningful, respectful way to help.
What began as simple concern became a focused, community-led effort to provide tangible food support—delivered with dignity, consistency, and deep respect for the families we serve.
We Went Straight To The DIF To See What Was Needed...
The DIF is the National System for Integral Family Development. It is the Mexican public institution of social assistance.
We met with Maria Flores at the local DIF to understand the most urgent needs in our community. She made it clear that food insecurity is the biggest challenge, especially with no formal welfare program to help local families. When we asked for specifics, the staff provided a simple list of essential grocery items... what families rely on most.
Our Mission Became Clear...
During our meeting with Maria Flores at the local DIF, a young woman arrived with her infant, asking for food for her and her baby.
We asked one of the DIF staff members to come with us to the store nearby and fill a cart with everything she needed—baby formula, diapers, food, and basic household essentials. We covered the cost and asked that the donation be given to her anonymously. That moment made our mission unmistakably clear: we were here to help feed people.
Friends Supporting Families Was Formed...
Our group began gathering weekly in August 2022 with a shared purpose: to find creative, sustainable ways to raise funds for local families in need.
Those meetings quickly grew into lively brainstorming sessions, filled with ideas, sketches, and plenty of trial and error as we explored what we could make with the resources we had.
From Humble Beginnings
Our turning point came with an unexpected donation: several boxes of unused beads from my sister. What could have been overlooked became an opportunity. Those beads were transformed into handcrafted pieces—simple, beautiful items created with intention, each one tied to the goal of helping a local family put food on the table.
Week after week, volunteers gathered around tables to create, connect, and quietly build something meaningful. Beads were strung, stories were shared, and a small idea began to take shape.
By November 2022, Friends Supporting Families launched at the Los Barriles Saturday Market. Our handmade goods became a way to raise consistent funds for basic food support within our community.
What started as friends coming together has grown into a focused, creative effort rooted in compassion and commitment—providing real, tangible support to Los Barriles families who need it most.