Charitable
Corporation
Charitable
Corporation
Charitable
Corporation
Who We Are
Loving Arms Charitable Corporation was born from a dream that Linda Coghlin, our founder had. With the hard work of our volunteers and the generous contributions made for the purchase of property, development and construction of the School of Hope started in 2016. The school is located in San Andrés Itzapa, a town in Chimaltenango, Guatemala.
School of Hope was approved in 2022 by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education to offer high-quality education to middle-school classes for our 6th-grade graduates. We aim to provide long-term, high-quality education in Guatemala and meet the short-term needs of more than 200 children. Currently we are working with Preschool through Grade 7 and soon up to grade 9.
Our history
Linda Coghlin is the CEO and Founder of Loving Arms an founded the Charity in 2005 after her first volunteer trip. She immediately knew she wanted to do more for the children and families of Guatemala than volunteer a few days a year. The Charity was registered with the Canadian Government in 2008.
Support Comes in Many Different Forms
Loving Arms provides services, resources, and education to children, youth, and adults in rural areas in Guatemala.
The support comes mostly from the sponsors who support us regularly, fundraisers and various donations from families.
Programs
Education Program
Our education program provides children with a high level of education so that they can excel. This program supports the student with education, school supplies, shoes, breakfast, and school bus.
Co-operatives
Dairy Co-operative
The purpose of this project is to be able to provide employment to people in-need as well as to provide milk to our Cheese Co-operative.
Food Distribution Program
The people who receive and are part of this program are the people in extreme need: children, families, households and the elderly who are in a situation of economic poverty, as well as homeless people and others who are in a vulnerable situation.
With the Food Distribution Program we support approximately 40 families in the mountain villages monthly with these packages.
Women’s Co-operatives
Loving Arms always works hand in hand with the Guatemalan women to provide them with opportunities for work and growth. Through the different co-operatives we have, we can provide them with a decent job so they can help support their homes.
Why people love us
My first trip to Guatemala was in 2005, before Loving Arms was dreamed of. Linda and I roomed together on that first trip with another friend of Loving Arms, Brenda Stratton. What an amazing adventure! I will never forget Linda’s discussion with me when we returned to Canada about how she had to do something to help the people of Guatemala. Her vision became reality as we met weekly to make bracelets to sell, in order to build a few homes in Guatemala. Well, that early vision, with a lot of prayer, determination and relying on God resulted in Loving Arms being born. Linda has stayed true to her belief that she did not want to give a hand out but a hand up, preserving their dignity. It was important to develop programs to teach the Guatemalans’ to be self-sufficient. That, was true help and her dream.
Fast forward to today, and Loving Arms now has property, a school, sponsorship program, co-ops, sponsored people to come to Canada to find work, Medical/dental clinics and teams going on mission trips. Linda’s vision came to fruition.
Why do I love going to Guatemala with Loving Arms? I know the heart of the Director Linda, the dedication of the Board of Directors and the Staff in Guatemala. I am also confident in the fact that the money donated is used to benefit the people of Guatemala with minimum money being used for administration.
For me, I love to see the joy on the faces of the children, the appreciation of the mothers and fathers for everything we do with them, the love they share with us. They think that we give them so much, and yet it is I who receives the many Blessings!
Hi Everyone,
I have been 2 or 3 times down to Guatemala with Loving Arms. I have been very impressed with the organization.
Every day, we leave on time with interpreters! As for the people, simple life is good. Having possessions is secondary to having food to eat.
The Guatemalan people are always ready to help with the mission. Linda Coghlin as Founder is very accommodating with all the teams and their needs during the mission trips. Her leadership style is respectful with all!
Hello. I am Roxana Oron, I am 46 years old. I live in Paraxaj, one of the villages in the mountains of Parramos. I live with my husband who is a farmer and 4 of my children.
I started receiving the food bag 9 years ago. I started in the program with one of my daughters since she was the beneficiary at the beginning, my daughter studied and managed to complete her elementary school and this bag was very helpful in her growth. I am the currently beneficiary of receiving this bag of food now.
I feel very grateful to all the people who are part of Loving Arms for helping me and giving me this bag every month because it is a great help and blessing for mi and my family.
Thank you so much and God bless you all!
I am amazed at all the wonderful initiatives that I have observed at Loving Arms: water filtration systems, efficient smokeless stoves, medical and dental clinics, literacy classes, cooking classes, provision of reading glasses, and the food distribution program for members of surrounding mountain villages. There have been a wide variety of coops: garden, sewing, dairy, cheese and yogurt, and poultry. In 2016 the excellent Colegio de Esperanza (School of Hope) was founded and has grown by one school grade each year.
The dedication of Linda Coghlin for the past 18 years to this ministry, the devotion of the Guatemalan school staff, and the commitment of the administrative staff are all truly admirable.
I encourage people to become involved by sponsoring students at the school, by joining short-term mission teams, and by offering financial support for all these initiatives.
I pray blessings on all involved as they seek to glorify God and bring hope to those they serve.
Thank you very much and blessings to all.