Xmas toy drive at Playa Maya

**ryberg** · 11-22-2004

Those who are interested in helping the many less fortunate kids of Playa have a nice Christmas this year may want to check this out.

Inasmuch as he was kind enough to marry Delmy & me some 7 years ago now (me not even being Catholic there was some question on this point), we have a good relationship with Father Bernard Quinn, an Irishman but long-time resident of Quintana Roo and for some time now the priest at the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, a Catholic church in the poor Colosio neighborhood. We have arranged with him to distribute toys to the neediest kids in the Colosio this Christmas, and also on the 5th of January, el Día de los Reyes Magos, when Mexican children traditionally receive an additional present (as in many other Christian but non-North American cultures).

Now the trick is, of course, to get the toys. We'd like to invite not only our own hotel guests, of course, but anyone coming to the area between now and New Year's, basically, to drop by Playa Maya and contribute a toy for a child to help out in this effort. Given the point about January 5th, even those who don't arrive until or just after Christmas proper will still have the opportunity to contribute.

Please note, however, a couple of toy selection suggestions: simple is best, so toy cars, dolls, stuffed animals, balls, etc would all be good, but things that require other items, such as electronic toys that need batteries or videos or DVDs that of course need players, would not be good. It's also better to err on the economical side, all in all, to avoid large discrepancies in the quality/value of the gifts being given to the various children.

OK, I'll float this out there and see what you think!

Steve

Marman · 11-22-2004

Steve,

I'll be down this Saturday, can you use any used toys or only new ones. I'd love to have my 3 kids load up a suitcase with unwanted toys and bring down.

Marman

cuffedlinks · 11-22-2004

Would it be in poor form to ask how to send $$ to you via the Playa Maya or some other avenue ??

I know this would involve the additional step of actually obtaining the toys this way....

Manitou · 11-22-2004

Luke, Little Buddy, Grasshopper, Pioneer,

Wonderful idea!

We need to make a run to Sams or Chedraui so we'll also be able to grab a couple of gifts at that time. We will be by one day for lunch this week and will drop them off at that time. Any day this week you don't plan on being around?

We have something else in common. Loras College (private Catholic college) took me in for my undergrad work back in 1986. Since I am not Catholic, had a rather low gpa to transfer in and needed financial assistance they by no means had to. Perhaps they simply appreciated my truthfulness, like when they asked about my own religious beliefs to which I replied I was agnostic. I developed a profound appreciation for some of the work the nuns and priests were doing, especially in Nicaragua. Some of the most dedicated, compassionate people I have ever been around. So your call for assistance hits home with me.

Russ

socalyplaya · 11-22-2004

Steve, This is perfect....we collected over thirty toys on our televison production....we wrapped them all in our spanish study group...marked them niño o niña...i was going to bring them to Angel Notion where we bring clothes....BUT...we will get school supplies for those niños as someone posted that is Lavonna's current request...and get the toys to the folks at Playa Maya....anyone else out there in production we invite you to join the fun!!! (kinda like matching funds on your favorite NPR station!!!)

squish · 11-22-2004

Hola Steve!
I think this is a wonderful idea and count me in.
I also don't mind toy shopping

Looking forward to seeing you.
Squish

Playaround · 11-22-2004

Great idea, I always like to help when I can, and would be happy to drop something off when we are in the area.
One thing I would like to point out is:
Not all underprivilaged families have just children, some have teens, so keep in mind your gifts are not just for kids.
We have such programs like that here ....even in Toronto, and a lot of the time there is not enough variety gifts for the teens.

**ryberg** · 11-23-2004

Wow! Lots of responses! That's great. Let me see if I can cover those points/questions in turn, here.

Quote:

...can you use any used toys or only new ones? I'd love to have my 3 kids load up a suitcase with unwanted toys and bring down.

I think used toys are OK if they're in what I would call very good condition, but we don't want this to be a way to clean out stuff that nobody wants anymore, you know. Also we want to keep the value of the toys more or less equal, you know, out of fairness concerns, and I guess many (most?) of them will be new, so for that reason, as well, the condition is important, I think. Use your judgment.

Quote:

Would it be in poor form to ask how to send $$ to you via the Playa Maya or some other avenue ?? I know this would involve the additional step of actually obtaining the toys this way....

Well I appreciate the idea, but for that reason and also because I don't really want to complicate matters financially or make work for anyone else with this effort, I think that just getting the toys would be best.

Quote:

We need to make a run to Sams or Chedraui so we'll also be able to grab a couple of gifts at that time. We will be by one day for lunch this week and will drop them off at that time. Any day this week you don't plan on being around?

Well not on Thursday (Thanksgiving) and not on Sundays (if I can avoid it), but otherwise, I'm here. They already know about it in reception, however, so anybody can just come on up and drop things off whenever they like!

Quote:

Steve, This is perfect....we collected over thirty toys on our televison production....we wrapped them all in our spanish study group...marked them niño o niña...i was going to bring them to Angel Notion where we bring clothes....BUT...we will get school supplies for those niños as someone posted that is Lavonna's current request...and get the toys to the folks at Playa Maya....

OK, great! But not trying to cut in on any other charity's action, here, you know. So if anyone wants to give in another way, just go ahead on!

Quote:

I think this is a wonderful idea and count me in. I also don't mind toy shopping. Looking forward to seeing you.

Same here, Squish! You were quite good at selecting stuff for kids before, if memory serves...

Quote:

One thing I would like to point out is: Not all underprivilaged families have just children, some have teens, so keep in mind your gifts are not just for kids. We have such programs like that here ....even in Toronto, and a lot of the time there is not enough variety gifts for the teens.

Yes, thanks for pointing that out! I hadn't thought of that myself. Good to remember.

OK, hope that helps! Now to get some boxes ready!

Steve

squish · 11-25-2004

Hi ya Steve,
I'm wondering if you could check out what's hot, cool and hip with the kiddie popluation down there right now. The Incredibles are really trendy up here and I'm wondering if the movie is showing in Playa?
Also, I don't know if this would be possible but it might be nice to meet Father Bernard Quinn, say, at a little 'social' at Playa Maya?

XOX Squish

Softy57 · 11-27-2004

Caramba[Anne & Brian] will be down next week & was kind enough to take a donation from Stogy & I and plans to shop for some toys there ,from them as well.

Since we won't be down till Jan 15th 05,I really appreciated her help on this, cool lady.

Honeydo · 11-27-2004

Hello Steve,

First time posting here! We will be dropping of a ton of toys the week of Dec 6. Hope to meet you

pmb · 11-28-2004

Steve --- I'm not going to Playa until June. Is there an address I can mail the toys to? I work with several different charities that support the youth in my area. There is nothing better than putting a smile on a child's face. Thanks.

BarCol · 11-28-2004

Okay ryberg - first run to Toys R Us has netted 5 little lego toy things for ninos and 5 My Little Pony things for ninas- more to come as daughter Gidget works at TRUs - we are arriving on December 18 and will bring the bootie to the reception at the Hotel.

regards,
Barb

caramba · 11-28-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Softy57

Caramba[Anne & Brian] will be down next week & was kind enough to take a donation from Stogy & I and plans to shop for some toys there ,from them as well.

Since we won't be down till Jan 15th 05,I really appreciated her help on this, cool lady.

Happy to do it, Softy! Will bring the toys to the get-together on the 6th (join us at the Playa Maya, Honeydo, if you can!).

Honeydo · 11-29-2004

Thanks for the invite caramba!!

Help!
-Does anyone know if we need to declare these gifts with Mexico Customs? Or can we just store them in our suite cases?
(We are bringing about 15 gifts. Value under $300.00)

11-22-2004	#1 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: wandering between the Village Vanguard, NYC, 1961 and the Plugged Nickel, Chicago, 1965 Posts: 9,726	Xmas toy drive at Playa Maya Those who are interested in helping the many less fortunate kids of Playa have a nice Christmas this year may want to check this out. Inasmuch as he was kind enough to marry Delmy & me some 7 years ago now (me not even being Catholic there was some question on this point), we have a good relationship with Father Bernard Quinn, an Irishman but long-time resident of Quintana Roo and for some time now the priest at the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, a Catholic church in the poor Colosio neighborhood. We have arranged with him to distribute toys to the neediest kids in the Colosio this Christmas, and also on the 5th of January, el Día de los Reyes Magos, when Mexican children traditionally receive an additional present (as in many other Christian but non-North American cultures). Now the trick is, of course, to get the toys. We'd like to invite not only our own hotel guests, of course, but anyone coming to the area between now and New Year's, basically, to drop by Playa Maya and contribute a toy for a child to help out in this effort. Given the point about January 5th, even those who don't arrive until or just after Christmas proper will still have the opportunity to contribute. Please note, however, a couple of toy selection suggestions: simple is best, so toy cars, dolls, stuffed animals, balls, etc would all be good, but things that require other items, such as electronic toys that need batteries or videos or DVDs that of course need players, would not be good. It's also better to err on the economical side, all in all, to avoid large discrepancies in the quality/value of the gifts being given to the various children. OK, I'll float this out there and see what you think! Steve

11-25-2004	#9 (permalink)
squish life=playa Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: O Canada - glorious and free! Posts: 647	Toy ideas Hi ya Steve, I'm wondering if you could check out what's hot, cool and hip with the kiddie popluation down there right now. The Incredibles are really trendy up here and I'm wondering if the movie is showing in Playa? Also, I don't know if this would be possible but it might be nice to meet Father Bernard Quinn, say, at a little 'social' at Playa Maya? XOX Squish

11-27-2004	#10 (permalink)
Softy57 añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Massachusetts,U.S.A. Posts: 1,697	Great Idea Steve Caramba[Anne & Brian] will be down next week & was kind enough to take a donation from Stogy & I and plans to shop for some toys there ,from them as well. Since we won't be down till Jan 15th 05,I really appreciated her help on this, cool lady.

11-28-2004	#13 (permalink)
BarCol lost on fifth Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newmarket, ON Posts: 18	Toys for kids Okay ryberg - first run to Toys R Us has netted 5 little lego toy things for ninos and 5 My Little Pony things for ninas- more to come as daughter Gidget works at TRUs - we are arriving on December 18 and will bring the bootie to the reception at the Hotel. regards, Barb

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11-22-2004	#2 (permalink)
Marman añejo Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,322	Steve, I'll be down this Saturday, can you use any used toys or only new ones. I'd love to have my 3 kids load up a suitcase with unwanted toys and bring down. Marman

11-22-2004	#3 (permalink)
cuffedlinks añejo Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The City of Presidents Posts: 16,003	Would it be in poor form to ask how to send $$ to you via the Playa Maya or some other avenue ?? I know this would involve the additional step of actually obtaining the toys this way....

11-22-2004	#4 (permalink)
Manitou añejo Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,873	Luke, Little Buddy, Grasshopper, Pioneer, Wonderful idea! We need to make a run to Sams or Chedraui so we'll also be able to grab a couple of gifts at that time. We will be by one day for lunch this week and will drop them off at that time. Any day this week you don't plan on being around? We have something else in common. Loras College (private Catholic college) took me in for my undergrad work back in 1986. Since I am not Catholic, had a rather low gpa to transfer in and needed financial assistance they by no means had to. Perhaps they simply appreciated my truthfulness, like when they asked about my own religious beliefs to which I replied I was agnostic. I developed a profound appreciation for some of the work the nuns and priests were doing, especially in Nicaragua. Some of the most dedicated, compassionate people I have ever been around. So your call for assistance hits home with me. Russ

11-22-2004	#5 (permalink)
socalyplaya toe in water Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: ¡¡¡so cal y playa!!! Posts: 42	Steve, This is perfect....we collected over thirty toys on our televison production....we wrapped them all in our spanish study group...marked them niño o niña...i was going to bring them to Angel Notion where we bring clothes....BUT...we will get school supplies for those niños as someone posted that is Lavonna's current request...and get the toys to the folks at Playa Maya....anyone else out there in production we invite you to join the fun!!! (kinda like matching funds on your favorite NPR station!!!)

11-22-2004	#6 (permalink)
squish life=playa Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: O Canada - glorious and free! Posts: 647	Hola Steve! I think this is a wonderful idea and count me in. I also don't mind toy shopping Looking forward to seeing you. Squish

11-22-2004	#7 (permalink)
Playaround very sparkly Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 28	Great idea, I always like to help when I can, and would be happy to drop something off when we are in the area. One thing I would like to point out is: Not all underprivilaged families have just children, some have teens, so keep in mind your gifts are not just for kids. We have such programs like that here ....even in Toronto, and a lot of the time there is not enough variety gifts for the teens.

11-27-2004	#11 (permalink)
Honeydo sandflea Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 2	Hello Steve, First time posting here! We will be dropping of a ton of toys the week of Dec 6. Hope to meet you

11-28-2004	#12 (permalink)
pmb beachaholic Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 319	Steve --- I'm not going to Playa until June. Is there an address I can mail the toys to? I work with several different charities that support the youth in my area. There is nothing better than putting a smile on a child's face. Thanks.

11-29-2004	#15 (permalink)
Honeydo sandflea Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 2	Thanks for the invite caramba!! Help! -Does anyone know if we need to declare these gifts with Mexico Customs? Or can we just store them in our suite cases? (We are bringing about 15 gifts. Value under $300.00)

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