At the Family Support Center of Ojochal our volunteers make all the difference to the families we help. They deliver food and vouchers, they check in on progress, they operate La Manita, our thrift shop, and they support our fundraising events.

Recognizing the contributions of these generous members of our community is one way to say Thank You!

Here is a profile of Sue Bellord!

A volunteer at La Manita and La Boutique Tienda, Sue was born in England, and lived in Los Angeles for 20 years, where she met her husband Harry and built a family with their 2 English Bull Terriers, Aldous and Sappho, and their crazy cat Bobbie.

A 2017 vacation brought Sue to Costa Rica where, after travelling the Pacific coast, they fell in love with Ojochal. Looking for an opportunity to experience a different culture, learn a new language, simplify their lives and enjoy life more, they relocated not long after, buying an older home, and setting out to make it their own through a major renovation. All this was completed on Christmas Eve 2019 – quite the present!

Trained as a chef, Sue decided cooking for friends suited her passion better than working in a restaurant. Instead she turned her creativity to the advertising industry, working with clients in the entertainment field for over 25 years – work she continues to do remotely, while enjoying the sights, sounds and serenity of the jungle.

In looking to connect with the community, Sue was instantly drawn to the Family Support Center. She says, “My 2 favorite things are working in La Manita and the Boutique and getting to interact with, and get to know, some of our local families. Second is helping at the garage sale. The garage sale is such a communal event. It’s not just a sale, people love to hang out and enjoy the delicious food and drinks provided by some of the local women, its a really fun day.”
 
When not volunteering, Sue loves the beach, running, being outside, nature, reading, music, fashion, design and the fact that “every day here is a new adventure”.