Cuenca is a city known for its excellent healthcare and hospitals. SOLCA is a Cancer Hospital with modern equipment and highly skilled physicians. People literally come from all around South America for treatment. The medical care here in Ecuador is inexpensive compared to the US, however there are people with little, to no, incomes in Ecuador, so a non-profit organization called FASEC was established to help these individuals. If an impoverished person develops cancer, they can go to SOLCA during the day for their treatment, and then go to the FASEC building right next door where they recieve their meals, sleep, and are monitored by the doctor/nursing staff. The patients are usually people from rural villages that sustain themselves by growing/selling vegetables or livestock. I have been volunteering there once a week for two hours every Wednesday.
FASEC has a large fundraiser every November, the money rasied goes for salaries, medication, supplies, meals for the patients, etc. It is a food fair that represents the cuisines of different countries. This year, the 16th year of the event, included the food of Colombia, Chile, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Japan, Mexico, United States, Italy, Taiwan, Switzerland and others. There were booths from various local organizations such as " The Association of Gourmets", the local Gastronomy School that is affliated with the University of Cuenca, the "River Basin Santa Barbara Association" which is typical food of the Azuay area. There was also a vegetarian booth and a HUGE Desert booth. Ecuadorians love their sweets.
Our neighbors across the street have been heavily involved with SOLCA and FASEC, their family has been touched by cancer several times and this charity is dear to their heart.
One neighbor spent quite a bit of time in Italy and is a great cook, so she purchased and cooked most of the food herself. I shelled shrimp for about three hours the day before the event, and then both Michael and I were at her house the next day helping with the rest of the Antipasto dishes. At the event I volunteered to help serve food. There were 10 cold dishes and five or six hot ones, meat lasagna, vegetable lasagna, Gnocchis and Ravioli's, and a Mediterranean Shrimp Stew. An event like this would never fly in the US, the food served at most of the booths is all homemade, the FDA would go nuts.
My grandmother tackled breast cancer with success back in the 70's, one of my Aunts has overcome several battles with this invasive disease, I call her the "Bionic woman", a cousin has also dealt with breast cancer successfully, (Cancer was in for a handful with her, there was NO WAY she was taking that laying down!!!), the same goes for very close friend of mine.
Because of family and friends this foundation is close to my heart as well.
FASEC has a large fundraiser every November, the money rasied goes for salaries, medication, supplies, meals for the patients, etc. It is a food fair that represents the cuisines of different countries. This year, the 16th year of the event, included the food of Colombia, Chile, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Japan, Mexico, United States, Italy, Taiwan, Switzerland and others. There were booths from various local organizations such as " The Association of Gourmets", the local Gastronomy School that is affliated with the University of Cuenca, the "River Basin Santa Barbara Association" which is typical food of the Azuay area. There was also a vegetarian booth and a HUGE Desert booth. Ecuadorians love their sweets.
Our neighbors across the street have been heavily involved with SOLCA and FASEC, their family has been touched by cancer several times and this charity is dear to their heart.
One neighbor spent quite a bit of time in Italy and is a great cook, so she purchased and cooked most of the food herself. I shelled shrimp for about three hours the day before the event, and then both Michael and I were at her house the next day helping with the rest of the Antipasto dishes. At the event I volunteered to help serve food. There were 10 cold dishes and five or six hot ones, meat lasagna, vegetable lasagna, Gnocchis and Ravioli's, and a Mediterranean Shrimp Stew. An event like this would never fly in the US, the food served at most of the booths is all homemade, the FDA would go nuts.
My grandmother tackled breast cancer with success back in the 70's, one of my Aunts has overcome several battles with this invasive disease, I call her the "Bionic woman", a cousin has also dealt with breast cancer successfully, (Cancer was in for a handful with her, there was NO WAY she was taking that laying down!!!), the same goes for very close friend of mine.
Because of family and friends this foundation is close to my heart as well.
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| The entrance to the FASEC fundraiser. It was held in the conference facilities of the largest Mall in Cuenca |
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| The Italian booth I worked in. |
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| The smiling lady was the contributor and cook for the food of the Italian booth, the blond woman with the sunglasses on her head helped Rosa by making a few of the dishes, and contributed the table clothes, and serving pieces from her own house. |
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| Delicious Pasta dishes |
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| It was a great spread of food |
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| Rosa and I spooning up the Antipasto dishes. |
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| This heaping plate of food was $5.00 |
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| One of the conference rooms where the food booths were lined up around the perimeter and tables were set up in the center for dining. |
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| The Ecuadorian Booth, no Cuy in sight, but the standard roasted pig was front and center. |
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| This is a HUGE pan of Paella, I heard it it was sold out in record time. The Italian booth served over 400 meals in about two and one half hours. We raised $2,600 for FASEC!! |
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