The Akumalian
Akumal's
Newsletter for its Extended Global Community
Quintana Roo, Mexico
Three Kings Deliver Toys to Needy Maya Children
January 6th, Dia de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day), or
Epiphany, celebrates the arrival in Bethlehem of the Wise Men carrying gifts for
the baby Jesus. This holiday is as important to the Mexican children as
Christmas morning is to children in North America, because children all over
Mexico wake up January 6th to find toys and gifts. Because of the poverty in
some of the more rural villages, however, there are children who have never
experienced receiving toys.
Gina Austin has started a new program that collects new toys through out the
year and distributes them to needy children in the Akumal area, not on Christmas
morning, but on January 6th.
Through the generosity of some of Akumal's local business owners, smiles shone
on the faces of many very underprivileged children in the small rural villages
along the Tulum-Coba highway. Akumal residents, Ingrid Datica, Gina Austin, and
Jorge Palma distributed a car full of new toys on January 6th. This great experience gave
Gina the idea to ask all guests arriving to the area to bring one used, in
good-condition, small toy with them (Barbie doll, small baby doll, small car
etc), to keep this collection going all year long, so that next January 6th, joy
can be spread even further, to as many villages as possible.
The Akumalian is responding to Gina's request and asking visitors to
please bring a new toy when you come to Akumal. Toys can be dropped off at
the CEA Center next to the Akumal Dive Shop and TSA Travel Services.
Photos Courtesy of Gina Austin and Malu Guijosa.
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