Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Students sell tamales for cancer victims

United Hispanic Leaders and families pull off last-minute fundraiser

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By EXPRESS STAFF

Wood River Middle School teacher Jonah Torseth receives his packet of tamales from members of the school’s United Hispanic Leaders group. Organization members and their families made 31 dozen tamales as a fundraiser for a family with members suffering from cancer. From left are Diana Loera, Osvaldo Arenas, Martin Mosqueda, Carolina Loera, Paola Lagunas, Luis Torres and Torseth. Photo by

Members of the United Hispanic Leaders group at Wood River Middle School got into the spirit of Christmas by making 31 dozen tamales for sales to teachers and staff at the school to help a family with members suffering from cancer.

Language teacher Amy Bingham, a facilitator for the group, said more than $300 was raised for the family when the tamales were delivered Friday.

The funds will be donated to the Garcia family, which lost their mother last summer to cancer. Two of three children in the family, Gladis and Laura, suffer from cancer as well. Lisa Rippo, an owner of Java coffee shops, has set up a fund to help the family.

Bingham is assisted with facilitating the United Hispanic Leaders group by coach and substitute teacher Brandeis Coshow. She said the club was founded in 2007 by students and former school social worker Angenie McLeary, now a Blaine County commissioner.

Bingham said the purpose of the organization is to "provide opportunities for Hispanic students to be positive leaders and role models for their peers." She said the group is dedicated to promoting intercultural exchanges, community service projects and cultural awareness at the middle school and throughout the community.

Bingham said the tamale project was a "last-minute" idea that required the assistance of the group's families.

"Making tamales is very labor intensive," Bingham said. "It takes more than four hours to make them and the process is very prescribed."

She said the families made four types of tamales for the fundraiser. Some were flavored with red peppers, others with green peppers, some with sweet peppers and others with cheese. Shredded pork and a corn meal wrapping are the main ingredients.

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Bingham said school custodians Susana Castro and Jose Alverez also contributed to the fundraiser—Castro made four dozen tamales and Alverez couldn't make them so donated $20 instead.

Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com