7th Annual Baja Nomad Dia de Reyes Toy Drive, January 19, 2013
Yes, we will make it happen again, for the 7th year in a row. the 7th Annual Dia de Reyes Toy Drive.
As most of you know, back in 2005 both Doug (BajaNomad) and I met at a coffee shop in downtown San Diego and discussed the possibility of holding a
toy drive for needy children in Baja that had not received presents for Christmas and having the (small) event on January 6th, Dia de Reyes, which is
when children in México receive toys and asking for donations from nomads that could take advantage of the after the holiday specials. Well in my
search for needy children (I was looking for maybe a group of 20 or 30 kids) the smallest group I found was from and impoverished area of Tijuana
called Lomas Taurinas. The group had 72 children, I thought it was a lot of kids but accepted the challenge and posted the event here on the board.
Well, to make a long story short, the first donor (Lori and Tommy Garcia from Team Cabo Magic) sent us toys and gifts enough for all 72 children so we
looked for more kids. Some came from a school for disabled children and in total we had 112 or 114 kids, food and fun for all. You can read all about
this on the threads for each year.
Now the event has grown a bit, year by year, more and more children, better and better venues. last year was amazing, having the event at El Trompo
interactive museum with about 450 kids.
Somehow it always works out great, with more than enough gifts and food for all.
Well, last year, since it was going to be so big I asked for additional help from a group that helps needy families throughout the year and they did a
fantastic job helping out with everything from gift wrapping to helping get the 5 buses necessary to transport the kids to el trompo.
Well, these same people have found me/us 1,500 children (Yes, fifteen hundred, one thousand five hundred) give or take a dozen or so. Wow!
The original date was set for January 6th but considering that as every year, each present has to be individually wrapped and tagged with each child's
name, we have to get enough food for all, the date has been set for January 19th, a Saturday.
We have over a month to accomplish this task and I'm sure it will be done.
We lost last year a couple of sponsors, one helped us with some of the food and a couple of years provided us with the rosca de reyes, Maria Elvia
Amaya de Hank (for the Punta Banda toy drive we stopped at Pueblo Amigo Hotel to pick up the roscas on the way down) And the other had come aboard for
last years toy drive, Mr. Gregorio Barreto who helped us with the buses that brought the kids from the outskirts of Tijuana. RIP.
We have again, thanks to our friends at BajaBound Insurance a drop off location of were gifts or donations can be sent
The information is:
Toy Drive c/o Baja Bound Insurance Services, Inc.
750 11th Avenue #101
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone (619) 702-4292
And for those interested in attending, mexicoach will once again be providing the transportation, so let me know who is coming. I assure you, it's a
great experience!
if you want to send egift certificates from Toys r us, the email is fernando@ultimatebaja.com
If you want to donate toys or food bu do not know what to get or can not send it, there is a Paypal account, fernando@vivabajacalifornia.com
Muchas Gracias.
Thank you so much in advance for making this Toy Drive once again possible,
Fernando Garcia y familia
[Edited on 12-11-2012 by BajaNomad]
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
Ferna........Count me in to do what I can. I still have a couple of good credit cards that are yelling at me to be used.
Do you have a location in mind......or did I miss that?
Do you have a location in mind......or did I miss that?
Yes, several as a matter of fact, because of the number of children, not counting the adults that accompany them, we have been offered an empty
maquiladora building, this just in case it rains but we are also looking for another location like the municipal auditorium that is by Caliente.
The ideal location would be an open air one like parque Morelos or the audiorama od El trompo or even the Tijuana Cultural Center. So I will try for
the open air locations with the closed ones as back up.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
You bring up a good point. With new vigilance at the border, will there be a problem bringing through mass quantities of new toys?
Perhaps a gradual relocation of this merchandise should be considered.
Actualy, this is the most time consuming and costly part of the event since we have to litteraly smuggle the toys down (contrabando hormiga) in small
quantities.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
Originally posted by fdt
the Tijuana Cultural Center.
My landlady, Elsa Arnaiz, is head of the Tijuana Culture department, a resume gift [as though she needs one] from the mayor. I think they grew up
together.
Just thought I'd do some name dropping while the opportunity presented itself.
yes, she's landlady of many here in baja California. nice lady but i was refering to the Tijuana Cultural center, that belongs to the federal
government Cecut. Imac is the municipal one.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
OMG - that's a huge party! I believe we can rise to the occasion. I went last year and won't forget the happy faces when they unwrapped their toy -
so excited - so happy to get a toy.
Is BajaBound ready to accept donations now? With all that smuggling, should probably start early. I have several toys already and will follow-up with
wrapping paper, tape and other toys.
Bless you, fdt.
Originally posted by wilderone
OMG - that's a huge party! I believe we can rise to the occasion. I went last year and won't forget the happy faces when they unwrapped their toy -
so excited - so happy to get a toy.
Is BajaBound ready to accept donations now? With all that smuggling, should probably start early. I have several toys already and will follow-up with
wrapping paper, tape and other toys.
Bless you, fdt.
They are ready and so are we for the covert smuggling operation!
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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