[ryberg]

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