Dias de los Reyes Magos:
As the Christmas season is fast approaching, I have again taken on the joyful task of organizing the Three Kings toy drive, as I have done for the last seven years.
As you may know, Three Kings Day in January is more important to the Mexican people than Christmas. This is the day that Mexican families exchange small gifts. Sadly, due to the extreme poverty of many children in the outlying areas receive little or nothing.
As a result of this community’s generosity, last year we were able to give a small gift to more than 1000 boys and girls in the campos near San Miguel de Allende! This year year the goal is gifts for 1100 children. This will require a great deal of generosity (some financial, some volunteer) by many people.
Where your money goes:
The boys from kindergarten to middle school all want a soccer ball. I am happy to say that I found a supplier two years ago in a nearby village where the balls are handmade by the residents of the village. The soccer balls are good quality and a good price. As a byproduct, it also greatly helps the people of the village. I plan to order 500 soccer balls, and they must be paid for by November 1st.
The older girls receive a lovely bag, filled with an assortment of things: notebooks, colored pens, hair bows and ties, earrings, nail products, and gloves. The price is reasonable, and the girls have been very happy with their gift. The kindergarten girls will receive a bag of colorful toys and some useful items; gloves and socks for the winter.
We are very flexible, and if a girl prefers a soccer ball or a boy prefers the bag, there is no problem.
The toys are not wrapped, which saves on the work load, but more importantly creates no garbage. The school personnel seem particularly happy with this!
Donations:
I am once again asking for cash donations. This is the best way to maximize our efforts to reach the goal of 1100 children and ensure the gifts are of equal value. This is not a charitable organization. No tax receipts will be issued, but I will keep a a list of all who donate (and the amounts) and will send you each a thank you and photos of the gift giving!
You are welcome to join us the day of delivery and see the excited faces of the children as they receive their gifts by a ‘King’.
If you do not live in San Miguel please email me and I will give instructions how to get your donation to me.
Thank you,
Les Pearson
Stay safe and healthy!!
Yashi Koshi!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment