Dr. Grace Lim made a startling discovery on Wednesday as she delivered her weekly health talk to the 120 elderly guests at the So Others May Eat hot lunch program.

The day was gray, and the waterlogged clouds promised yet another badly needed downpour. In one of the wettest rainy seasons in memory, the doctor’s topic was staying dry, staying warm, staying healthy.

“How many of you own an umbrella?” asked Dr. Lim.

A smattering of hands went up.

“How about a raincoat?” Almost no hands went up.

This was disturbing because many of the men and women who gather every Wednesday to share a hot meal and warm kinship and camaraderie walk great distances from the outskirts of San Miguel de Allende to get to the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel courtyard.

Walking so far in the rain just wouldn’t do.

Dr. Lim walked from table to table, talking with guests and checking on their health as she does every week.

She also asked about rain protection.

The answers were both startling and understandable.

As it most often is, it is about money. Most can not afford a raincoat or poncho. The little pension or stipend they get goes to food and family. A raincoat is a luxury. And besides, the clothes will dry, eventually. Hungry stomachs do not go away so quickly.

And umbrellas? Not practical. A surprising number of the guests walk with the help of canes or walkers. The women invariably carry a large shopping bag in their free hand, filled with food, clothing, sewing, and knitting.

We would need a third hand for an umbrella, some explained with mirth-filled eyes.

Dr. Lim, being Dr. Lim, the solution was simple: We must get each guest a raincoat as soon as possible. At the very least, a giant trash bag that could double as a raincoat. Preferably a raincoat or a poncho.

She asked Sheila Sawyer, a long-time leader at SOME, to source out the raincoats.

I was so intrigued, I offered to help. Besides, how often can you so quickly make a difference in someone’s life when the problem – staying dry during the rainy season – and the solution – raincoats and ponchos! – is right in front of you?

I went straight home and jumped on Amazon Mexico, where there was a variety of raincoats and ponchos, and even a bulk-buy option – 100 ponchos in five colors! Unfortunately, the earliest they would arrive is July 5. The earliest. 

I tried the Chinese site Temu, and though it offered many options, virtually every one indicated that it was sold out. Are cheap ponchos that popular? Has the tariff-riddled supply chain been that badly damaged???

Sheila is going to try a couple of local places, and today I will check out the two Chinese bodegas – one on the Calzada de la Estacion and the other at the top of Salida Real A Queretaro. Maybe I can make a deal for 200 rain ponchos with one of them.

I’m looking at the disposable raincoats that come individually packaged and are easy to carry for the times when they are needed. Just drop one in your abuela bag and forget about it until the skies begin to sprinkle. 

The thought of these beautiful elderly people (Oy, many are my age.) getting soaked to the bone for the lack of a raincoat is driving us to get something quickly. Not one case of pneumonia on our watch!

If you have any ideas or know of a solution, contact us right here. And if you can help financially, consider a donation. That would keep the budgeted money going for the food that our guests so eagerly look forward to every Wednesday.

Rain or shine.

If you think you can help, here is a link to the So Others May Eat website: https://www.soothersmayeat.org/ . Thanks!

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