A: The children are not available for adoption due to strict Mexican Laws, as well as our desire to see them remain in Mexico and become productive members of society.

A: Many of the children come from small villages in the mountains of Guerrero, one of the poorest areas in Mexico. Many are from single-parent families who cannot take care of them. These kids are mostly abandoned and abused, as they are an obstacle and nuisance to some of these irresponsible parents.  The Marsh Children's Home is well-known in the area and it is usually a neighbor or relative, or the local authorities, who bring the children to us. Here they rapidly make friends and immediately start to mingle and play with their new family, the Marsh Children.

A: Sometimes the parents come back and get their kids as we have no legal way to retain them.   Mostly, they just leave them and forget about them. When the kids grow up, sometimes around their 17th or 18th birthdays they leave and look for a relative, like an uncle or grandparent, with whom to live, while they use the education they received at the Marsh Home to begin their adult lives in a way that keeps them above the poverty line. Other times, like our driver, Chucho, who fell in love here at the Marsh Home, married and has a beautiful baby girl called Esperanza (Hope); they decide to stay with us and help others to flourish and live a more dignified life. Since we consider this their home, there is no age limit when they have to move out. They are part of the staff and consider this their home.

A: We try to give our children as much love, direction, responsibility, discipline and good schooling (government school plus private education at Home) as possible, so they can integrate into the community and achieve a better life than their parents.

In 2014, we implemented a Job Placement program to assist our graduates to find good jobs, those in line with their long-term career aspirations. As of February, 2017, we currently have 3 Marsh Home graduates working in the Tourism Industry at some of Acapulco's most renowned Hotels. Here they will work with mentors to help them gain valuable experience in their field.

A: At the Marsh Children's Home, the kids follow a simple schedule. They get up at 6 am, make their beds, clean their rooms and patios, and arrive at breakfast at 7 am. At each table in the dining room one of the children is designated Captain. He or she is responsible for bringing the food from the kitchen and ensuring that all eat a proper meal. This job is rotated on a weekly basis so that every child grows up accepting responsibility.   After breakfast all are off to school, returning between 1 and 2 pm. They have time to shower and change before lunch at 2 pm.   From 3 to 6 pm, a teacher assists the children with homework and helps them out if they are behind in their studies. Plus they have anywhere from 3 to 4.5 hours of computer lessons a week in our newly inaugurated state-of-the-art computer center. At 6 pm they spend 30 minutes helping with chores that vary from kitchen work to cleanup of the grounds, laundry, setting the dinner table or various other activities. They are then free to play. After a light dinner; they get cleaned up for a 9 pm bedtime. Saturdays involve 3 hours of study, then playtime, chores and outings. On Sundays, they attend church in the morning, with afternoons free to play, swim, football on the beach or other activities. Often, we have volunteers who visit to help the kids with computer lessons, music, singing, games and Bible study.

A: All our children must attend school! We have teachers come in six days a week to help the children with their studies and homework, and to help with remedial studies. Many of our children arrive speaking no Spanish, so we have to spend a lot of personal time with them at the beginning. At the Marsh Home we have many children whose native tongue is NAHUATL, MIXTECO and AMUSGO.

A: Over the past 12 years or so, the price of "staple goods" like beans, rice, tortillas, potatoes, milk and fresh fruits and vegetables has nearly doubled. To provide the children at the Marsh Home with three meals a day, plus a snack in the evening, costs about $100 per day. We sometimes get donations of day old bread from bakeries or donated tortillas chips. The $100 dollars per day for feeding the children provides them with a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy, home cooked meals for both lunch and dinner.

A: You bet! We are currently looking for a Special Donor who will provide $250 per month to pay the salary of a special Computer Teacher for our children. We also have 4 Special Projects that we hope to complete between mid 2017 - mid 2018; click here to see our Special Projects page.

A: Absolutely. "Marsh Children's Home Acapulco Inc." accepts monetary donations that are tax deductible according to U.S. law from U.S. individual, organizations, and businesses. It's simple and secure! Simply login to your Paypal account and send money to: [email protected]. Or you can keep scrolling down until you see the "DONATE NOW" button on this same page. Donations to this website and to Paypal will be received and processed by Marsh Children's Home Acapulco, Inc.

A: No problem. Follow the instructions above that link you to the Marsh Children's Home Acapulco, Inc. Paypal account. Near the bottom left hand side of the page, where you see the Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discovery card logos, you'll see text that says: "Dont have a PayPal account?". Just to the right of that text you'll see an underlined "Continue" button. Click "Continue" and you'll enter the secure page that will allow you to enter your First and Last name, Credit Card Number, Expiration Date, 3-Digit Security Code and your mailing address and telephone number. Enter your email and create a Paypal Password. Once you've completed that, click the small yellow "Agree and Continue" button. Donations to this website and to Paypal will be received and processed by Marsh Children's Home Acapulco, Inc."

A: If they are books what you are sending, make sure to write on your commercial invoice: "BOOKS / PRINTED MATTER". This way they are tax exempt / no import duty. Please ship donations to the following address: We humbly request that you send books in Spanish, please. Here's our address:

A: Just make a check out to "Marsh Children's Home Acapulco, Inc." and send to the following address:

U.S. tax receipts which may allow deduction from U.S. taxes in compliance with United States law are issued for donations made to Marsh Children's Home Acapulco, Inc., a U.S. 501 (c)(3).  These donations must be received by Marsh Children's Home Acapulco, Inc. by donation online on this website; by mail at 120 S. Houghton Rd., Ste. 138-152, Tucson, AZ 85748;  or by wire transfer to a Marsh Children's Home Acapulco, Inc. bank account. 

Other donations directed to Hogar Infantil Marsh do not qualify for a U.S. tax deductible receipt.  Question may be addressed to Robin Blackwood, Treasurer, Marsh Children's Home Acapulco, Inc.: +1 (520) 777-1571
E-mail: [email protected]

Both Hogar Infantil Marsh and Marsh Children's Home Acapulco, Inc., share a singular mission, which is improving the lives and/or well-being of abused and/or abandoned children and adolescents in Acapulco and surrounding areas.