8/13/08 Large Bag
Donation!
We have
received a donation of 187 assorted
school bags from Sr. Jorge Resendis Gomez of Mexico City just in time
for our back to school distributions! We cant wait to start handing them
out to the kids who need them most packed with school supplies so they
can get off to a good start with the new school year!
7/1/08 Give a Toy Get
a Smile Forum Opened!
We have just opened a forum on the
website for our supporters to organize freely and get to know each other
while furthering the cause. We invite everyone to sign up and express
yourselves.
Click here to go to the forum.
6/30/08 Blanket drive
update!
Below is a message from Nancy regarding the drive to purchase new
blankets for
the children in La Casa del Esperanza.
The
Company that I ordered the blanket and sheet sets from, in the US for the kids
in the orphanage, has also decided to DONATE a bunch o' more blankets for other
children in this area! Again, I almost cried! They told me over the phone when I
called to confirm my order! How GREAT is that???
Thanks to all my TA Angels (you know who you are) for helping me to keep things
alive...Contact me so we can have a drink on behalf of the kids (I only drink
Coca-Cola, so not to worry!)
6/30/08 Temptations
Resort joins Give a Toy Get a Smile!
We are pleased to announce that the
Temptations Resort in Cancun is now a drop off for donations
and has agreed to help us gather toys for the children in Cancun this
Christmas.
6/15/08 Biggest Single
Cash Donation to Date!
Below is a message from our founder Nancy,
Today, we were thrilled to receive a donation of $2,650 usd
from
Mary Kay Cosmetics
European Division. This money will be used to buys toys in New York this
summer and making Christmas-time a lot brighter for these children.
AeroMexico has also joined us by donating an extra box to the kids to
bring down toys every time my husband returns to Cancun (once every 3
weeks). This allows us to buy a greater variety of toys and donated
toys!
6/15/08 New Puerto
Morelos Drop Off!
We now have a new donation drop off
in Puerto Morelos for supporters who are visiting the area. It's
David Lau's Chinese Food and Pizza right in
the main square.
6/14/08 Blanket Drive
Below is a
message from our founder Nancy regarding her efforts to collect blankets
for local children...
The Blanket Drive for the children in La Casa del Esperanza (the House of Hope)
reached the goal of 18 Disney Blanket Sets. These blanket and sheet sets will be
donated to the kids at the orphanage in November, when it gets a bit colder.
Thank you to everyone from Trip Advisor that donated and for your kindness and
generosity!
Big hugs, kisses and SMILES from the Cancun Kids
(to the following supporters)
BobDidIt, CherylP,
BSQ, NurseinLA, poftheo, Monkatom, Kayem, MMT, Selluacaddy, May2000, ala2kw,
Beloro, Penny Penguin, lexyca, Debbie, Ellabear, ladyme1, luvcancun08, and
n2pizza from Trip Advisor.
Thank You to Howie and Tamar Baylarian for buying a blanket, too!
5/13/08
2008 Recent Distributions Below is a message from our founder Nancy,
detailing her activities for Mexico's Children's Day and the last
several weeks....
Click here to see all of the photos!
Hey
everyone! Here is a review of how the Children's Day celebrations went.
Friday, April
25th, I went to the Casa de Esperanza in Bonfil. I gave out clothing to
the children, we played Cinderella (if the shoes fit, they got them!) and we
had donuts and juice. The kids were very happy to recieve new T-shirts and
shorts, pants and socks.
Wednesday,
April 30th I went to La Casita with the help of some of the ladies at
the International Women's Club. In the morning we made over 100 Peanut
Butter and Jelly sandwiches and then at 4:00 we started the party. We played
a relay race and then Simon Sez.
Armando the Magician came by to entertain
the kids for about an hour. They were amazed at his tricks. I still can't
figure out how he turned those hankerchiefs different colors. We then went
into the dining area and the kids had their sandwiches and cake and juice,
provided by the IWC. Then I gave out the toys that were donated, for the
most part, by all my frineds on TA! THEY WERE SO HAPPY! Everyone had a new
toy! We left La Casita feeling really good!
Wednesday, May
7th we went to the school for the children with severe handicaps. This
is really our most rewarding experience...these children are so loving and
were so happy to receive the toys. These children loved the matchbox cars,
stuffed animals and backpacks. They were so appreciative and thanked us for
bringing them the toys.
Friday, May
9th we started out early. We picked up Selluacaddy and Beachjunky and
off we went to the Hospital General. We gave out coloring books and crayons
and stuffed animals to the children. We got BIG SMILES from the children,
the moms, the dads, the nurses, selluacaddy and Beachjunky! The SMILES were
flowing! We went out for a quick lunch and then headed over to the orphanage
in Bonfil. Andy had brought down 2 scooters for the kids and they LOVED
them. Each child took a turn and helped the little ones ride it too. Sellu
and Beach were happy to see that the children were so friendly and shared
their things. I was a bit worried that they would scoop up the children and
run....there was so much love in their eyes! One little girl grabbed Sellu's
arm and had to have a picture with him. Then another young girl grabbed him
for another photo. All the children were just FASCINATED with his tattoos!
Sellu and Beach had brought BAGS of toys and stuffed animals to donate and
then ran BACK TO WALMART with us to buy a BUNCH MORE! HOW GOOD ARE THESE
PEOPLE!!?? We spent a wonderful day together and dropped them back off at
the RPLA at 9:45 pm!!
Now, I am
collecting school supplies and backpacks for the beginning of school and
TOYS for Christmas! It's not too early to bring these things down if you are
coming to Cancun. (If you're not coming to Cancun soon, you may make a
donation via PayPal
direct to us!) No donation is too small...every peso goes toward a new toy
for a child!
Thanks
TripAdvisor.com and all the wonderful people that support me. Christmas and
Children's Day are a whole bunch happier because of all of your donations!
Love you ALL!
Nancy
4/4/08
2008 New Toys at Wal-Mart
With some of the generous PayPal
donations we have received from our supports Nancy was able to buy 28
new toys for the kids at Wal-Mart, where we were extended a %10 discount
on many of the items. Below is a short message from Nancy.
( Above
is a photo of ) the basketful of toys we were able to buy thanks to your
donations. The picture shows me with the 2 managers at Wal-Mart that I work
with, Berto and Javier (and associates). We bought our 10 bat and ball sets, a
bunch of action figure dolls, girl dolls, soccer balls and other COOL toys! It
is wonderful to get this money now because Wal-Mart has a lot of toys on
liquidation. The Action figure were normally $199 pesos (or more) and we got
them for $85 pesos! That's a significant savings and it allows me to buy really
nice toys for the kids. Whether you can donate $1.00 or $100, the donation is
greatly appreciated. It's one more toy we can give to a child that might not
have ANY new toys!
Thanks, TA buddies
for your help! Tienen corazones de oro! (You have hearts of gold!) Love you ALL!
Nancy
4/1/08
2008 Give a Toy Get a Smile visits
La Casita
Orphanage! Below is a message from our founder Nancy.
I
had a wonderful experience yesterday at the local orphanage, La Casita, It
was my first visit there and I found the children to be so friendly, curious
about why I was there and very helpful. I went with Tammy Caison, the Ms.
American Dream. We had a great time handing out candy, coloring books,
crayons and slinkies to the kids. I'm really not sure who had a better
time...them or us!
Please find it in
your heart to help us out by donating just a little bit, or by going to (the
store) while you are visiting Cancun and buying some toys for our Drive.
Hard Rock Cafe and Needful Things are collecting toys and school supplies.
Thanks to all my
old and new friends for all the help you have given me and for all the
wonderful smiles I have received from the kids. I could never have done it
without you! Nancy
Be sure to check out
our PhotoBucket Album for all of the most
recent pictures from our distributions.
3/20/08
2008 Collection Officially
Started!!!
The Give a Toy Get a Smile efforts have officially started for 2008!
Lets all make sure this is our best year yet! Already Nancy has been to
the local hospital to spread some smiles and we are making plans for
Mexico's Children's Day! Below is a short message from our founder
Nancy.
I
went to the General Hospital last week and gave out stuffed animals and coloring
books and crayons to the children. You can see how beautiful the children are,
and I tell EVERYONE ALWAYS that the presents that they are receiving come from
the tourists that visit Cancun. You all make SUCH A DIFFERENCE and I could never
have accomplished so much without (our supporters)! You all deserve to see the
smiles I get on your behalf because you are the people that are supplying me the
toys! BIG SMILES AND HUGS FOR YOU ALL!
If
you are coming to Cancun and can't get to a drop off site, call me (once your in
the area) and I will come pick up the toys...Cel...998 204-0072 or my home is
887-5760. I ALWAYS have my cel so that's the best way to find me.
I
have had many requests for people that would like to join me at the Hospital to
give out toys. I like to do that but sometimes it's not possible. I do try to
get over to the Hospital when I have tourists that want to go along. Now that I
am mobile again, my life has become a lot easier. So if you're in town and want
to come along to the Hospital, please let me know in advance and we will try to
make plans to make it happen!
Thanks again to everyone and come on down to Cancun...your home away from home!
Be sure to check out
our PhotoBucket Album for all of the most
recent pictures from our distributions.
All previous news stories have been archived CLICK HERE.
