Organizers of Jugueton 2013 extend a special thank-you to all of the foreign residents who generously contributed to this year’s campaign, helping them reach an all-time record of 2,631 toys collected to brighten Christmas for impoverished children.
The two-day marathon sponsored by Chapala parish priest Enrique Monteón Curiel and the San Francisco church Salesian lay missionaries group (Grumis) was held December 14 and 15 at the Chapala plaza. Grumis spokesman Gilberto Padilla reports that one expat resident who dropped by to leave a 1,000-peso donation agreed to accompany Juguetón volunteers as they immediately set off to put the cash towards the purchase of a bundle of playthings.
Needy moms and dads – identified by the annual Grumis socio-economic census carried out in low income neighborhoods – were issued coupons to retrieve bags of items for their offspring at the church on December 23 and 24. That way, according to Mexican custom, each youngster woke up on Christmas morning to find that El Niño Dios (Baby Jesus) had left a special gift just for him or her.