Tanya Jones and Page Cameron distribute gifts for Christmas in 2008

Tanya Jones and Page Cameron distribute gifts for Christmas in 2008. Photo by Kenny Jones.

Captain’s Daughter Christmas Project 

Initiated by Zihua business owners Tanya and Kenneth Jones, the project was set up to collect new and used, non-battery operated toys and to distribute them within economically disadvantaged communities and schools.  In 2008 about 120 children received toys and gifts in Colonia El Embalse.  Last year 130 children received gifts at the Miguel Hidalgo School in Colonia Lanoria and this year the organizers hope to distribute gifts to 400 children through Miguel Hidalgo and perhaps one other school.  Teachers at the school also set up the gifts as a reward for good grades.  From December 26, 2009 – January 3, 2010, wrapped or unwrapped gifts can be brought to Captain’s Daughter Restaurant, or Bar la Playa, both located at Nicolas Bravo 39, Zihuatanejo.  Gift donors are invited to a big party on December 26, 2009 (which also coincides with Bar La Playa’s anniversary party) there will be treats and one free cocktail.  While there check out photos of the project from previous years posted in Bar la Playa. Gifts are distributed on Three Wise Kings’ Day, January 6.  For further details, contact Tanya Jones at 112-2175 or email: Captain’s Daughter.

The Angel Tree program

This is a worldwide program, a branch of which was started Zihuatanejo seven years ago.  The project organizes gifts for the children of people incarcerated in the local jail.  Gifts are delivered on January 6th of each year (Kings’ Day).  The inmates also create high quality hammocks which are sold through local churches including Zihuatanejo Christian Fellowship and at Ixtapa Christian Fellowship.  The revenues of the hammocks go to offsetting their expenses while incarcerated and to supporting their families.  If you are interested in making a donation, in buying a hammock or in learning more about the many facets of the program contact Patti at The Angle Tree Project.

Baby Bundles

Rose Cavenagh, wife of an Ixtapa Christian Fellowship minister and a Mexican-Canadian nurse, has been involved for many years in a ministry at the Zihuatanejo General Hospital. About three years ago, the Chief of Social Work at the General Hospital asked Rose if she would give classes to pregnant teenagers, to assist them with making good decisions in life.  She said yes. These classes are now presented by Rose, Racquel Viveros and Alisa Duncan, weekly to a group of twenty-five to thirty young women.  Rose asked the hospital’s social workers if anything was provided to the economically disadvantaged young mothers when they left the hospital.  When she discovered the answer was no, Rose presented her friends with a challenge to reach out to the pregnant teens in the Ixtapa – Zihuatanejo community in a meaningful way.

Patti Long and Carol Walters took up the challenge and initiated the Baby Bundle Project, which is now co-coordinated by Patti and Joan McKay.  About every two to three months, a group of full-time and part-time expats, visitors and locals alike, gather to socialize, have some snacks and make bundles.  (The author has attended a few gatherings herself and can attest to it being lots of fun.)   Each bundle includes: diapers, baby powder, bible in Spanish, three months of vitamins, baby soap, mommy soap, shampoo, body lotion, onesies, tooth brush, tooth paste, all wrapped in a receiving blanket and tied with a ribbon.

Once the bundles are complete, they are dropped off at the Social Services Department of the General Hospital.  Social Services determine who receives the bundles, based on their educational class attendance, economic situation and need.  Approximately 300 baby bundles are produced per year and it is estimated that the cost to produce one bundle is 25 US dollars.  The group’s goal is to increase production to approximately fifty bundles more per month in order to keep up with demand in 2010.

How you can help

The next baby bundle gathering will be in December.  All are welcome to join in.  To contribute products for the bundles, for the date and address of the next gathering, or for more information about how to get involved, contact Joan at 553-1618 or Baby Bundle Joan or Patti at Baby Bundle Patti

In the future, educational classes, outreach and nurturing of pregnant teens, could be a full time ministry for someone.  Also, teen mothers need more follow-up.  Contact Rose at cavenaghster@gmail.com about perusing either of these possibilities.