SALUDOS LINDOS/Beautiful Greetings (#35): Several months ago a young woman came to the door selling light bulbs. She only had 2, but she wasn’t begging. Now Cathy has something much better for Claudia to sell!
Claudia told Cathy she had a 2 year-old daughter. Cathy gave her a dispensa and offered to get her baby formula the next week. Claudia came back with her daughter, and when Cami hugged the baby formula and squealed with delight, Cathy was taken!
Claudia and Cami were weekly regulars. Claudia, who is 18, explained that her husband was out of work because of the pandemic. One week Claudia came and said she had found a little work and wanted to pay Cathy what she could, seven pesos. A few weeks later, Claudia came by dressed nicely and with a little make up to tell Cathy she had gotten a job at a Tienda. The job only lasted two weeks, until the owner’s daughter lost her job and took over from Claudia.
Last week Claudia looked particularly bleak. They were completely out of food and money and one of her shoes was falling apart. Cathy have her a dispensa, raided the pantry, freezer, and fruit basket, and gave Claudia money for a new, used pair of shoes. While they were talking, Claudia asked if it was alright if she ate the banana. It was after 3:00 and she hadn’t had anything to eat yet that day.
After Claudia left, Cathy told me she had an idea. The next day Cathy was back at work in her studio for the first time in months. In North Carolina, she had made and sold original note cards and had 30 blanks cards and envelopes left over. Cathy put small alcohol ink paintings on the cards for Claudia to sell. Cathy then arranged a basket for the cards and typed a note in English and Spanish explaining what Claudia was selling. Claudia went door to door and sold all the cards in two days for 40 pesos each. Claudia was thrilled and had a waiting list. Cathy and I searched the desk, my office, and Cathy’s studio and found 16 more cards and envelopes. It took cathy two days to finish the cards and Claudia on day to sell them.
Cathy has has ordered new card stock and envelopes and made Claudia Director of Marketing of the Saludos Lindos Creative Co-op when Claudia suggested they make Valentine’s Day cards if the card stock comes in time. When the pandemic is over Cathy has promised she’ll teach Claudia who to make the small alcohol ink paintings for the cards. A helping hand, not a hand out!
