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 News from Around Banderas Bay | December 2005 
The Real Santa
 PVNN
| Reporter Kathy Taylor handed out over 50 plasticized photographs of children that she had taken on previous visits to Moms who would not have a photograph of their child otherwise.
 Click HERE for more photos |
Puerto Vallarta - In an exclusive interview with BanderasNews reporter Kathy Taylor this week, Santa Claus said that his visit to the Children of the Dump in Puerto Vallarta was "one of the happiest days of my life."
Despite the heat, he wore his traditional fur trimmed red suit. Santa's eyes twinkled as over a hundred little children sat on his knee. He patiently let lots of little hands tug his white beard. "De verdad!" the kids exclaimed, "It's real!"
In a place where a little means a lot, Santa's time was truly priceless, and for some of the children, it was also the happiest day of their lives. The Children of the Dump program is a loosely organized group of volunteers and local restaurant contributors who visit the colonia near the Puerto Vallarta dump every week. They bring a hot meal and donated items that are distributed through the "store."
This week the store was a little fuller than usual and Santa brought candies and treats in his bag. But the real treat was a special delivery of twenty knapsacks which were distributed by a special lottery. Judging by the joy on the faces of the lucky twenty, knapsacks are one of the most appreciated items, and are on the Most Needed List as well.
| Santa patiently let lots of little hands tug his white beard. "De verdad!" the kids exclaimed, "It's real!"
Click HERE for more photos |
While the little kids tested Santa's beard, Andales' owner and past president of the South Vallarta Rotary Club, Jorge Zambrano, played soccer with the older boys. Jorge is the pillar of the program and uses his persuasive skills to bring more restaurants on board. He is also the contact person for visiting Rotarians from all over the world.
BanderasNews reporter Kathy Taylor handed out over 50 plasticized photographs of children that she had taken on previous visits to Moms who would not have a photograph of their child otherwise.
When asked "Is that all?", Kathy lined up all the children she missed on her previous visits and took their photos, which will be given to their Moms next time she visits - with the added bonus of having the children's pictures taken with the Real Santa!
The Children of the Dump program is run by a group of restaurant owners, the South Vallarta Rotary Club, and a bunch of volunteers who ask nothing of the recipients except their presence. As one of the volunteers, Cynthia says, "we get a lot more than we give." Their needs, she says, "are all material. There is a lot of love and emotional support in these families."
For more information, see Kathy's story "It's All About Love," or call the Puerto Vallarta Rotary Club at [52] [322] 224-9851. To join the volunteers on their Monday trips to the dump, wait at the picnic tables in front of Sam's at around 1:30 pm.
Click HERE for more photos |
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