Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Dig Deep

It's that time of year again. Time to start thinking about digging out those mittens and hats and all the other things you take for granted to keep you warm during the upcoming cold months.

But what if you had nothing to dig out? What if you had to tie a plastic bag around your head to keep the chill off your ears? Or you had no socks to cover your feet which you have shoved into a pair of ill fitting hand me down, holey shoes? Or no blanket to snuggle under?

Well, that's the scenerio many children in the mountainous areas of Mexico will be facing again this year. But you can help. You can help keep some of these children warm this year. Just like you did last year.

I, of course, am referring to Project Warm Hearts. The charity I started last year to provide warmth, comfort and maybe a few smiles to the children in a little village in the mountains of Veracruz. In the village of Xico.

These are some of the hats I was able to knit this year and get delivered for Christmas distribution.



Believe me, it wasn't easy getting these up to John and Anita in Xico. It took a trip down to Akumal with the hats and lots of other things that people have brought to the island for me to forward on to the children. These things were handed off to Kathy who generously went out of her way on a trip NOB to drop them off. The kindness of people continually amazes me and fills me with hope and joy.

One of last year's recipients.




Due to new laws regarding shipping, duty and customs of items within Mexico, I am not able to ship a single thing off to these children. Everything will have to be hand-delivered this year. It breaks my heart but I cannot change the law. Neither can you.

But you can help put a smile on faces like these.




This year I am asking all of you, everyone of my readers, to click on this link and go over to John's blog. There you will find a PAYPAL button. Go ahead and push it. Donate what you can. Every single dollar you donate will be used to purchase items of warmth, toys and goodies in order that these kids can experience a Christmas. And a warm and comfortable winter.

My heart goes out to these innocent, deserving kids. I hope yours does too.




Besides all of the contributions of hats, mittens, books and toys last year, you, my readers, donated $900!!!! I am so proud of all of you. So go ahead, donate today and make me even prouder this year. I know we can beat last year's amount.

Like last year, I will be publishing a personal thank you on Christmas day for all of your donations and help and total selflessness in this cause.

Sadly, this will be the last year that this charity will be able to function. Let's make it a good one!

NOTE: When you hit the DONATE button on John's blog, put Project Warm Hearts in the space. He'll then know that you are donating to charity and not to keeping his server running.

10 comments:

Babs said...

Wayne, just FYI, they have already had snow in the State of Hidalgo! NOW is the time for donations.......

Calypso said...

We have already started giving out your knitted hats.

Looks like a good cause to me.

Gracias Amigo.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to help out, Wayne. The Paypal button link says, "Help us keep our server running..."

How do you donate specifically to help the kids?

Linda
(aka you know!)

Steve Cotton said...

Would you mind if I impinged on your territory and included a post on my blog about this project?

Islagringo said...

Babs: It's always time to donate. I just have to give people a time frame.

Calypso: Great! Like Babs mentioned, it is already getting cold in the higher regions.

Linda: specify the charity name in the field for your donation. And thanks!

Steve: I would be honored and the kids will be thrilled at all the publicity we can get. Blog away!

KfromMichigan said...

I will be donating again this year. Those cute little faces need our help!

Islagringo said...

KfromM: thank you so much! Can you send me an email with your full name so I can include you in the thank you post?

lisa said...

Good luck! Too, bad it is the last year!

Anonymous said...

So sad to hear that this is the last year. I will be donating for sure. What an angel you are to these beautiful children. Love the pic of the hats. So colorful.

Islagringo said...

lisa: it's the last year because I will have no way to send stuff to Xico. Leaves me mad at the Mexican customs dept.

lagovista: no, you guys are the angels.