Cozumel News November 3rd, 2014 Special Edition: Cozumel Las Fincas Families, Children of Cozumel Bomberos and Cozumel´s Casa Hogar JuanPablo II
Kings’ Day Celebration
Susan’s King’s Day celebrations are quickly approaching and we have been gathering up the gift donations. Thank you everyone for your generosity again this year. Susan’s goal has always been a gift for every child. She tries to make sure the gift includes a necessity such as a toothbrush, something fun like a soccer ball, a toy or beanie baby and, when possible, useful items such as pencils, crayons, hair ribbons, socks or underwear. The parents are not forgotten and last year 180 bags of rice and tomato sauce went to the children’s moms, plus a 10-peso coin until we ran out. We added in 400 oranges along with refreshments and Candy Cane Corki gave out candy canes until they were gone. As usual, there were more children than gifts, but every year it gets better! This year the Kings Day Holiday will fall on January 6th, 2015.
If you are traveling to Cozumel in the next few weeks or shopping in Cozumel and see something you think they would like, please help us make these wonderful people’s day.
Susan is continuing her battle with the ovarian cancer. News from Joan Roberts and her family is that she is doing a little better every day and the new treatments are helping her. Keep our friend in your prayers!
Who Benefits
Las Fincas Families
Las Fincas is government land the Mayans homestead in. The population is roughly 2000 and children make up many of those people. Here you will find homes made out of pallets, cardboard, sheet metal and some stick style homes. Many have no running water.
The Bomberos’Children
The Cozumel Fire Department has around 32 employees to safeguard over 90,000 citizens and an entire island that entertains about 3 million cruise ship passengers each year. Susan started making sure each of their children had a gift for Kings’ Day after she discovered how little they were paid – if paid at all.
Casa Hogar JuanPablo II
This nursing home started in a small house on 30 Avenida until a local woman donated land north of the transversal highway. The home is solely funded by donations and payments from the residents.
Wish List Items for the Las Fincas Families & The Bomberos’Children
Tooth paste, dental floss, tooth brushes
Underwear – boys & girls, all sizes
Hotel soaps, shampoo, lotion, etc.
Baby bottles
Personal care items – lip-glosses, nail polish, barrettes/ribbons, hair
Brushes, small sewing kits
Cash for groceries
Barbie’s or other similar dolls – new or used
Coloring books, crayons, pencils, etc.
Action figures, misc. toys, puzzles
Baseball caps – a hit with the dads
Or, as Susan says
“Most of all use your imagination & have fun shopping”
Wish List and NEEDS Casa Hogar JuanPablo II
Simple Requests
Items for the Abuelitos are quite simple; if they receive something, they are just thrilled that someone thought of them, it is not so much the gift, but the thought. At the present time, there are seven women and two men and we will probably have one more gentleman in the next couple of weeks.
Here is what they would like:
The Ladies: Powder, hand & body lotion, socks (non-slip if possible size M), brushes, manicures & pedicures $
The Gentlemen: Caps, boxers, combs, a radio for their room, money.
The Nuns: They have not requested anything special for themselves, but do like coffee, chocolates, powder, hand & body lotions, money.
Needs for the group: Milk (deslactosado), Pantry items, Adult diapers (always an ongoing item), bed linens (white is best, twin sized), pillows (need 19), money.
Women’s Clothing: blouses, robes, sweaters, light jackets,
Men’s Clothing: pants with drawstring or elastic waistbands, Size L sports t-shirts
Items we are Working On that Need Cash Donations!
Sink faucets (8 double-handed, 2 single), Shower Heads (3), Roof on the Laundry Room, 5 Twin Beds, 7 Wardrobes for the residents to store their clothing and Money.
A cash donation can be directed toward any of these items. There are no overhead costs with Susan Bonnett’s King’s Day Projects and all money will go directly to the people Susan loves.
Cash Donations
If you’d like to make a cash donation and direct it toward a specific group (e.g. groceries for the nursing home or sponsor a bombero’s child), please notify
Kathy McGinn (woofem@me.com) or Gena Meyer (caribdivergena@gmail.com
