Author | Chatmeter TeamDate Posted | November 26, 2019

Chatmeter Cares: Baja Bound 2019

This past weekend a group of Chatmeter employees, friends, and families, headed down to Maneadero, Baja California, Mexico, to build a home for a family in need. This is our third trip with the non-profit Baja Bound to build homes in Mexico. After weeks of fundraising and collecting donations from Chatmeter employees, friends, and customers we were finally able to build another home for a family in need. With this year’s trip being so close to Thanksgiving, it left our company feeling more than thankful for all the opportunities we have.  Here’s a look at our most recent trip with Baja Bound and why it’s so important to us.

About Baja Bound

Baja Bound is a non-profit organization that has been building homes south of the border for over 25 years. They’ve streamlined the home building process so that volunteers could build a home in a single weekend with affordable materials. Baja Bound also connects volunteer groups with various missional, service, and ministry opportunities at local orphanages, churches, shelters, and humanitarian organizations.

To learn more about the home building process, check out our Chatmeter Cares recap from last year.

Building A Home For The Hernández Gaytán Family

This year, we were able to build a home for Veronica Gaytán, Raúl Hernández, and their daughter, Kelly. Raul works in the fields of Ensenada and met his now-wife, Veronica, on the bus to work.  He saved his money and before getting married, already bought and completely paid off a plot of land. Raul wants to be able to offer his family a better life, but the only thing he has to give them is the land and a little wooden structure in which they live.

An Experience of a Lifetime

The Baja Bound trip left many Chatmeter employees feeling grateful for the experience. Here is what some of the volunteers had to say:

“Baja Bound is a life-changing experience where friends, coworkers, and volunteers come together to create a home for displaced families. The amount of fulfillment that comes when the keys are handed over to an overwhelmed family lasts a lifetime. From sleeping in mud surrounded by corkboard to a permanent, dry, cemented, stable home. I look forward to many more builds, helping families, and giving back to our California neighbors.” Lee A. Sr. Vice President of Sales

“Our third build in Maneadero proved to be the most challenging but also the most rewarding. After a rainstorm, the land was less than ideal to build on but we made it work with the help of a few locals and even the father of the family. The moment we were able to give the keys of the home to the family will last with our team for a lifetime. We can’t wait to do this again!” Xander B., Sr. Listings Specialist

“My trip to Ensenada for Baja Bound was an amazing experience! I really enjoy building things with my hands and being able to put my skills to use for a family in need was a very rewarding experience. Seeing this young family’s faces light up when we gave them the keys made all the sweat, soreness and hard work well worth it! I will definitely be doing another trip next year.“ Kevin M., Sr. Channel Partnership Success Manager

We’re so thankful for the opportunity to help another family this year. We look forward to going back next year and building a home for another family in need. To learn more about Baja Bound or to donate to our next build, click here.