latinhotparty.com

Staff clack away on decades-old manual typewriters, between painted metal bed frames in a hospital ward near Cancun.

Led by a soft-spoken social worker, Lydia, we pop in and out of the tiny rooms where young patients sit quietly with their moms, waiting to feel better. There is no “children’s ward,” playroom or TV for distraction. As the two gringas come in to announce that “we have toys,” faces light up. Nancy Myers chooses from containers of stuffed animals, colouring books and crayons and places the gifts in eager little hands.

We ask if we can take a picture, and 13-year-old Rudy, who’s recovering from salmonella, sits up and smiles from his cot in the hallway, displaying his new magnetic dinosaur board and Christmas bear.

I’ve got the best of both worlds –the satisfaction of making a child’s Christmas wishes come true combined with the well-deserved indulgence of a tropical vacation.

The “Give a Toy, Get a Smile” program asks tourists visiting the Cancun area to bring a new toy or personal item, unwrapped and culturally appropriate, for underprivileged children up to 18 years old.

“These kids truly have nothing so they are so happy for whatever they get,” says Myers, who’s been running the charity with her New York-based husband for three years.

Toys should not be electric or require batteries. The gift should be something that a Spanish speaking child can use–which rules out English storybooks, or English-only instructions.

Leave gifts unwrapped to go through customs which also helps Myers give the gifts to the appropriate child.

Charitable groups benefiting from the Give a Toy, Get a Smile program include children in La Casita Orphanage, Bonfil’s La Casa del Esperanza Orphanage, three schools for children with severe mental, physical and emotional problems, including one in Isla Mujeres, children from families with AIDS-HIV, and the children living in the jungle outside of Cancun.

Even if you’re not visiting the area by the end of the year, you can contribute through PayPal online or send a cheque to Nancy’s New York address, (details at giveatoygetasmile.org),where toys will be purchased and brought down for the holidays. The program runs all year long, and includes a drive in the fall for backpacks, school supplies and blankets.

How You Can Help

A number of businesses in the Cancun hotel Zone and the Mayan riviera have set up drop off points for donations to the children. to see what’s been given in the past and for a full list of drop-off points, go to giveatoygetasmile.org

Source: www.canada.com