Bringing Joy to Jaltemba

by Dorothy Bell  

There are many things that our Snowbirds bring down from the North that are appreciated so much down here. If you have a corner in your suitcase or a box you could stash in your car or RV, please consider bringing something down to make life for the locals just that much better.

There is still an opportunity to go to thrift shops and yard sales. Clean out your basement, attic or garage. Hopefully you will find a baseball glove that needs a new owner or a Barbie doll that would bring huge smiles for a young girl at Christmas.

Christmas Gifts

Every year Santa visits many of the Colonials – Mexican neighborhoods - to give gifts at Christmas to kids. There are a few Santas out there that ensure your gift goes to the most needy…

Toys and Gifts The Guayabitos Santa via Danny Milski/Rouque. Deliver gifts to Danny: write firstmaterubia@hotmail.com and he will give you instructions

Salvador’s Restaurant Christmas Day Giveaway for Beach kids. Deliver directly to Salvador’s on the Beach or on the Highway. (email: salvador_ambriz@hotmail.com)

Barbie Dolls The Barbie Lady says Barbie Dolls and clothes are needed for distribution during the coming Holiday season. Volunteers also welcome to help at the barbie dressing parties to be held the first two weeks of December. For additional info email Geri de Moss (email:gd1935@wildblue.net)  

Sporting Goods

Mataja’s Restaurant (email: matejasmexico@hotmail.com) is home for the sports equipment giveaways! You would have to be there to see the smiles and appreciation from last year! Bring gloves, bats, balls, soccer equipment etc. Be creative! Who has a tetherball? Is there a school up north that is replacing used equipment?

Be assured Mateja gives out one piece of equipment at a time. Bill and Dorothy would like to equip a secondary school that has kids from Lo de Marcos to Las Varas! Hotel California always knows where needy kids are. Bring on sports equipment.

Medical Supplies

We really need wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, slings….Last year we had to really search high and low for a wheelchair for a Canadian gentleman who lost function in his legs and needed a chair for a few weeks before family could get here and take him home. If there are any RVers that could bring some down, we would be sure to use them! Take them to the La Penita RV Park (email:Carole@lapenitarvpark.com) or to Mateja’s Restaurant (email: matejasmexico@hotmail.com) You can take any other equipment there also. They will see that everything is given away to those in need.

 

Cancer de Mama provides free prosthesis, funds medicals expenses, helps with after surgery with counselling and physical therapy, and provides wigs, scarves and hats for Mexican women. A three day workshop is held annually in La Peñita. This clinic helps in all areas of dealing with this disease, giving women compassion, hope and encouragement. They can use a whole host of supplies from bras to wigs. Here is a partial list:

Bras GENTLY USED BRAS (Please make sure bras are clean, and have NO UNDERWIRE, NO FOAM CUPS, NO DEMI CUPS) GENTLY USED PROSTHETIC BRAS, GENTLY USED PROSTHETIC FORMS, KNITTED OR CROCHETED TIT BITS

Clothes.FOR THE FREE STORE (please make sure your donations are washed and clean) warm clothes, jackets, scarves, gloves, sweaters, any clean, gently used clothes

Knitting and Sewing material KNITTING MATERIALS (light coloured cotton blend yarns, soft knitting materials (used for tit bit prosthesis) SEWING MATERIALS (knit stretch fabric in white, off white & black, stretch lace 4″ wide, any colour, black and white thread, large spools, sewing pins, scissors, sundries used in sewing projects)

MAKEUP for the Look Good, Feel Great Makeovers at the clinic (good quality lip sticks, any new makeup, sponges/application products)

FOOD for the clinic, tea towels, cutlery

Go to their website for further contacts www.cancerdemamaclinic.com

School Supplies

There is always a need for school supplies for kids down here. Every school has extraordinary needs. If you can bring down a bag of dollar store goods, or even better, buy some while you are here, they can be easily distributed. You can go to a school yourself or we can set you up with someone who will help you give them out. Write editor@jaltembasol.com and I will hook you up with a volunteer.

Pet & Clinic Supplies

Lin Chimes and the Jaltemba Bay Animal Rescue does a great job of taking care of Spay and Neuter needs for our local animal population.

General Supplies Kennels (check garage sales) Old Towels, Old Sheets, Flea and Tick medication (Frontline Plus is the best but only available in the U.S.) Collars and leashes (dollar store)

Medical Supplies Sterile Surgical Gloves, Sutures 3.0, 2.0, 1.0 (absorbable type) Stethoscopes, digital thermometers, Catherers (IV not catheter type) #18, 20, 22, and 24, 1" needles with caps, 1, 3 and 5 cc syringes, packaged gauze squares, drape, 18 gauge 1" or 1 1/4" catheters (not the butterfly type) long neck syringes (not the screw type), Straight needles size 22

Call Lin at linchimes@hotmail.com to see their immediate needs!

Supporting a Local Service Club or Charity

If you have something that would be a hit at a silent auction – consider bringing it down. Many of the events and service organizations have silent auctions to help raise funds for local improvements. The Margarita Challenge, for example, has a silent auction where the proceeds go to an elementary school and to families in need.

Charitable Airlines

If you are traveling by plane and have things you know our community could use, call the airline and see if they have a policy that would allow extra luggage! If you know of an airline that has a special policy for bringing down charitable goods, please give us an email.

Thanks

And by the way, thanks so much for your generosity. Just take a few moments and a few dollars to make someone’s life down here just that much better. If we have forgotten your group or omitted you charity, we apologize in advance. Please send us your needs.

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