Kick Off! Three Kings Day Toy Drive

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 four 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.

So many things have changed this year due to Covid. It will have some impact on the delivery of gifts, but there is a solution for delivering the gifts to the children in a safe and healthy manner.

We are hoping to give gifts to 800 children.  Many of you have made  wonderful contributions to other worthy causes over the months, but It is important this year, as in past years, that the children in the campo get a small Three Kings day gift.

We have a great team of volunteers waiting to help with all aspects of the project. Your donations make it all possible, and I thank you in advance.

The gifts need to be ordered and paid for soon, and so I am beginning the process early. 

You may make your donations by contacting Les Pearson – mexicokid77@yahoo.com

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 workload, 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.  mexicokid@yahoo.com

Thank you,

Les Pearson