Ideas for Children´s Toys & Adolescent Gifts
The only recommendation (and requirement, in the case of Give a Toy Get a Smile) is that toys please be new, not used. The toys needed are just the same as kids anywhere would love with a few exceptions. Battery operated toys are not requested (batteries are expensive and are unlikely to be replaced). The children helped here may not have electricity and may not even know what a PlayStation is, so toys that depend on electricity are also not required. Toys that have instructions in English are not recommended, as these children speak Spanish. The children range in age from six months to eighteen years in age.
- trucks
- dolls
- Legos
- dominoes
- paints
- crayons
- perfume
- nail polish
- hair ribbons or accessories
- coloring books
- sports balls
- make-up kits
- a diary
- inexpensive jewelry
- Nerf toys
- pocketbooks
- wallets
- Barbie dolls
- water guns
- marbles
- Matchbox cars
- blocks
- stuffed animals
- clothing (again, new please)
Ideas for School Supplies
- backpacks
- notebooks
- assignment pads
- pencils
- pens
- markers
- erasers
- crayons
- pencil sharpeners
- stickers
Give a Toy, Get a Smile
www.giveatoygetasmile.org
This local organization, based in Cancun with additional drop off stations in Playa del Carmen and Tulum (Cabanas Copal), accepts toys and school supplies year-round for local children. Toys are now being received for the April delivery for Children's Day, and backpacks with school supplies for distribution in August for the new school year. There is a big red box in the front desk area of Cabanas Copal where donations are accepted daily.
Hekab Be Library in Akumal:
http://hbwishlist.blogspot.com/
What they need most:
Time - consider donating an afternoon to help with various projects (painting, organizing space, checking in books, etc.). Contact Maggie to plan a time: Maggiemk@aol.com
Money - while last year was one of the best so far in terms of meeting the library's financial needs, please remember that monetary donations are the only thing that helps pay the bills and other library expenses. The budget is modest, but still requires cash flow. No government funds or money from other sources are received.
Old clothes - gently used clothing for teens, children & infants is needed.
Taller Cero in Tulum:
http://www.locogringo.com/forums/tm.a...
http://www.locogringo.com/forums/tm.a...
This group supports the Taller Cero arts workshop in Tulum. This is a non profit - donation run Creative workshop for young kids and young adults. Twice a week they open the palapa roof building and run art classes, theater, library, chess, and more. They also teach pattern making and other fabric arts in hopes that some can earn a living with this knowledge. Bringing donations of Books written in spanish for kids and young adults is preffered, rather than money donations. Spanish books for children are very expensive in Mexico to buy. Story books, song books, picture books etc. would be so welcomed.
