A call to charity, with official seal
In a turn of events that no one saw coming—well, except perhaps the meteorologists and anyone who has looked out the window in recent days—the Secretary of the Navy (Semar) has decided that it is not only useful for patrolling the seas and parading on national holidays. Oh no. Now it has also become the logistical manager of popular goodwill. With a solemnity that almost makes you cry, the institution has called on the population to please stop being so stingy and take their cans of tuna and packets of cookies to the collection centers that, with the efficiency that only a military institution can achieve, have been deployed throughout the country. Because, of course, who better than a sailor to organize a toilet paper and mayonnaise drive?
The reason, they tell us with the most serious face, is “to provide support to the families that were affected by the recent rains and floods.” A situation that, without a doubt, has made more than one navigate the streets instead of the sea. How ironic, right? The Navy, helping people who suddenly have the ocean in their living room. Life turns as many times as a ship in a hurricane.
The Great National Giving Tour: Find Your Nearest Naval Command
So that there are no excuses like “I didn’t know where to leave my instant mashed potatoes”, Semar has deployed a network of collection centers so extensive that it almost rivals convenience stores. Prepare for a geographic tour that will make you wonder if you’re reading a press release or a music tour itinerary. In the Gulf of Mexico, for example, you can go to Tuxpan, Veracruz, because what better place to start helping than from the heart of salsa? But if Veracruz is far away for you, don’t worry, there is also an option in Coatzacoalcos (yes, another Veracruz, the state is generous in cities) or even in Tabasco and Campeche, for those who want to donate with a touch of southern flavor.
And for the inhabitants of the Pacific, do not feel excluded from this festival of charity. Semar also thinks of you. From the Second Naval Region in Ensenada and San Felipe (Baja California), passing through Guaymas (Sonora), to the Fourth Naval Region in La Paz (Baja California Sur) and Mazatlán (Sinaloa). Even in Manzanillo (Colima) and Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco) you will be able to deliver your donations, probably with the sound of the waves and the aroma of sunscreen in the background. And for those who live in the center of the country and feel terribly far from the coast, a consolation: there is also a center in Mexico City. Because solidarity, it seems, also has its headquarters.
The naval institution, in a display of transparency that almost overwhelms, informs us that the “address and telephone number of each naval command is accessible” on its website. Come on, they don’t have a simple interactive map, they have a naval command directory. Because nothing says “come donate a blanket” like having to look up the Navy’s entire organizational chart. You almost expect to be asked for your ID and given a security check upon arrival before accepting your box of bleach.
The menu of misfortune: what charity accepts (and what it does not)
In a statement that ranges between an official message and the supermarket list, Semar has been kind enough to detail exactly what is good for a victim. Just in case someone thought of bringing caviar or pâté, the institution clarifies that they are looking for canned and non-perishable foods. On the list of what is acceptable we find culinary gems such as tuna, sardines, coffee and… mayonnaise? Interesting choice. On the one hand, instant mashed potatoes; on the other, mayonnaise. Someone in the Navy has a very particular vision of emergency gastronomy. Bottled water, powdered milk, cookies, beans and baby food complete the list. A combination that, without a doubt, will delight adults and children… or at least keep them alive.
But it doesn’t end in the pantry. Oh no. Semar, thinking that hygiene is as important as food (something with which, without a doubt, we will all agree), also requests cleaning and personal hygiene items. From chlorine and detergent, to bar soap, toothpaste and, of course, the precious and undervalued toilet paper. Because if there is something that defines civilization, it is that. Added to this are diapers, sanitary towels, covers and blankets. Basically, everything that separates humanity from the stone age, packaged up and ready to be donated. It is almost moving to see how, in the midst of the catastrophe, what we really long for are the basic products of any 21st century home.
The finishing touch to this solidarity logistics exercise is put by the institution itself with a quote that seems taken from a Mother’s Day speech: “The Secretary of the Navy cordially invites society to join this noble cause. Each donation represents a show of empathy and unity with the families that need it most. Participation strengthens the spirit of solidarity that characterizes Mexicans.” How beautiful. It is clear that, beyond easy sarcasm, what underlies it is a genuine aid mechanism. It is comforting, deep down, to know that there is a protocol, no matter how bureaucratic it may sound, to channel aid. Although one can’t help but imagine an admiral personally supervising the stack of sardine cans, making sure each one meets the institution’s standards.
In short, while nature insists on reminding us who is in charge here with its deluges and floods, institutions respond with what they do best: organize, catalog and distribute. And the citizens, with what they do best: stacking cans and packaging soaps. It’s a dance of absurdities, but it’s the dance that keeps us afloat. Never underestimate the power of a donation, no matter how modest, or the ability of a military institution to turn it into an act of state. In the end, we all row in the same boat…sometimes literally.
Do you know anyone in the affected areas? Share this crucial information on your social networks so that help reaches where it is needed most. Together, even with a touch of irony, we can make solidarity sail further. Explore more about emergency relief efforts on our site.
