CHARITY IN CANCUN

Before I get into how great the Give A Toy, Get A Smile charity is, if you already have given in the past, or intend to make a donation the next time you are in Cancun, place a wall post about it on our PEOPLE'S CHOICE GUIDE CANCUN Facebook Page, we would love to hear from you.


The concept of to give a toy and get a smile in return, sounds like a rewarding experience and a heartwarming moment waiting to happen. However it is quite a different situation when the needs of so many children and families motivate someone to take action. When we here at PEOPLE'S CHOICE GUIDE CANCUN learned about this Yucatan based charity GIVE A TOY, GET A SMILE, we felt that it was such a worth while cause that we decided to seize the opportunity, and put our money where our proverbial mouth is. Earlier this year, shortly after the release of our current edition, we made the pledge to give a donation in the amount of $1.60 (10% of the regular retail price), to this Cancun based charity that helps so many people. We do this for every guidebook purchased via our BUY DIRECT & SAVE store, located on our website's SHOP page. 

In an effort to make a difference in her new community, Nancy Myers, a Registered Nurse from New York, along with her husband Andy, started a non-profit organization known as Give A Toy, Get A Smile. Nancy and her husband Andy are rewarded by the smiles they receive from the children, parents, grandparents, doctors, nurses and administrators of the facilities they assist. Rather than write about my thoughts on this wonderful charity, the rest of this blog entry will be the words of the charity's founder, Nancy Myers.

THE GIVE A TOY, GET A SMILE STORY

In late October 2005, Hurricane Wilma struck the Cancun area. People faced an array of difficulties including repairing homes, lives and livelihoods. Finding a way to purchase the bare necessities became an everyday challenge, and buying toys for the children at Christmas was certainly out of the question. We knew we couldn't sit around and do nothing, so we decided to start a charity with the goal of helping to replace the little things in life that make a big difference. The mission has simply been to accept donations of toys and school supplies from tourists, and get them to those in need. The collection point was originally at a small restaurant known as My Place, however, as awareness spread, a location with a larger capacity was needed. Today the Hard Rock Cafe is graciously accepting donations on behalf of GIVE A TOY, GET A SMILE. Since its inception, donations in excess of 3,000 toys and countless school supplies have been distributed to La Casita Orphange, El Hogar del Esperanza Orphanage in Bonfil, the Little Yellow Schoolhouse on Isla Mujeres, School for Children with Exceptional Needs (autism, cerebral palsy, etc.), Hospital General, "Families Learning to Live with AIDS-HIV", Francisco May Pueblo and countless other pueblos in the jungle throughout the State of Quintana Roo.

We take tourists along on our trips to visit with the beautiful children in our region. Although Cancun has beautiful beaches and resorts, most never see the poor and sick children that need help. When you come to Cancun, please pack something to drop off for our kids. Donations of toys and school supplies are accepted at the Hard Rock Cafe located at the Plaza Forum By The Sea shopping mall, Boulevard Kukulcan Km 9, in the Cancun Hotel Zone.

For additional Information and to view photos of our work visit: www.GiveAToyGetASmile.org