Each year volunteers and sponsors from the United States, Canada and Mexico provide new tennis shoes, socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste for over 1,000 poor children in Mazatlan and the colonias (neighborhoods) surrounding Mazatlan. This ministry is not tied to any special holiday, but is meant to be a blessing from a loving God who sees each child as unique and special.
Starting in November we draw footprints of the children from the 13 feedings centers and several new colonias close to Mazatlan. Mission teams and long or short term vacationers turn out to help with the fun of measuring, buying shoes, filling boxes with goodies and delivering the gifts to the children. This ministry continues until about the first of April when all children who qualify will have received their shoes.
We are always in desperate need of items to fill shoe boxes, so there are many ways in which people can help. All sizes of socks and toothbrushes are essential products that go into each child’s box, including a small tube of toothpaste. Other non-essentials could be small toys (stuffed animals or car), pencils, erasers, balls, hairclips, Play-Doh or 8-pack crayons.
December will be our huge fundraising month, and we encourage everyone to be involved in this effort. We take donations all year long for this special ministry and a tax-refundable gift of $25 will help cover the cost of a pair of shoes and socks for one child. Imagine what it costs to provide this small gift for over 1,000 kids! But with your help we can achieve this goal of Making a Child Smile in Mazatlan, Mexico!