As in years past, in 2025 we will be working with several charities and local groups that need our help. Each year we look for a different local organization where we can put our hands, our hearts, and our money to work.
This year we will support the “Zoo”, Zoológico Parque del Niño Jersey, which is a donation-based organization that is not just a “zoo”. It’s also a wonderful family and children’s play area with many educational, recreational, and interactive areas. The “Zoo” is just part of the Parque, but it’s a very special part. The animals at this Zoo come from various situations, not just exchanges with other zoos. They are often animals that have been confiscated by the authorities due to the lack of proper paperwork, animals that have been confiscated and are injured, and wild animals that have been injured that need veterinary care and rehabilitation to be released back into the wild.
The Zoo does not receive any funding from the government when it takes on confiscated or injured animals. The donations from our Chapter in the past have been used for everything from animal feed to veterinary care and medicine to a nationally recognized award-winning enrichment exhibit.
Additionally, we provide monetary donations to the wonderfully charming and delightful children’s dance group, Folkloric Anahuac Punta Banda Children’s Folkloric Ballet, which is for at-risk children in the Punta Banda (Ensenada) area. The cost of the dance uniforms alone is over $200 per child, and there are currently twenty-three children in the group! Many of these children have been in the group since they were 4 or 5 years old!
This year we will have the privilege of a live performance. Buckle up for a beautiful show that you will not want to miss.
While at La Jolla Beach Camp, we will all participate in a ‘hands-on’ project. We will be painting and improving a local grade school that receives no government assistance. We will have much more information about these projects in the coming weeks. Our host from La Jolla Beach Camp, Miguel Pabloff is assisting with the local community to help with arrangements. We recommend everyone bring a set of old clothes and old shoes and participate in what is generally a 4-6 hour project. Everyone will also be allowed to experience the smiles on the children’s faces when they see the transformation completed. (Bring your Kleenex.)
I know most of you have heard about our infamous Auctions. Do not despair we will be in full auction mode in La Jolla Beach Camp. In addition to monetary donations, the single most important source of our donation funding comes from our Auction. Which, I must say, is a sight to behold! (Check our website for pics of previous year’s Auctions!) For the Auction to succeed, we need QUALITY items to sell, and the more, the better!
The items will be auctioned off to our group, and whoever else may join us from the local La Jolla community (a large ex-pat community that lives in that area). Many of the locals look forward each year to the Auction! In previous years we sold everything from Native American flutes to beautiful handmade quilts to some AMAZING handmade chocolates (thank you Ms. Perlita from the Zoo!), to some REALLY nice (and expensive) Tequila! People also love fresh home-baked goods. If you are a great cook, this is the time to shine.
Please help us to make the 2025 Auction the best ever! Bring quality items for the auction and an open wallet to help us help our wonderful Mexican hosts, friends, and those in need.
We will need a few Auctioneers and helpers during the Auction to hand out items, track sales, and collect payments. We will also ask volunteers to help sort, organize, and arrange our donations for the auction and prepare bags and boxes to deliver to the poor families in the area after the auction. Seeing how some of these families live when we deliver the items is a real eye-opener and will bring tears to your eyes. You don’t know what poor is until you see how some families live in Mexico. There is a place on the Registration Form to participate in any of our heartwarming charity activities.
The Zoo can always use tools, both manual and electric, screws, staples, wire, wood, buckets, plastic jars, and any item they can store food in. There is continual maintenance required at the Zoo, and they have difficulty buying everything they need.
Additionally, we provide monetary donations to the wonderfully charming and delightful children’s dance group, Folkloric Anahuac Punta Banda Children’s Folkloric Ballet, which is for at-risk children in the Punta Banda (Ensenada) area. The dance uniforms cost over $200 per child, and several children are in the group! Many of these children have been in the group since they were 4 or 5 years old! We also help our wonderful host from La Jolla Beach Camp, Miguel Pabloff and family, by providing food, blankets, etc., to those in need in the Ensenada/ Maneadero area.
This is where we need gently used, QUALITY items for donations to these families. So, before you travel south for the winter, clean out your closets and bring along any items you no longer use.
In addition to monetary donations by all attendees, the single most important source of our donation funding comes from our Auction. Which, I must say, is a sight to behold!
(Check our Facebook Page for photos of previous year’s Auctions!) For the Auction to succeed, we need QUALITY items to sell, and the more the better! The items will be auctioned off to our group and whoever else may join us from the local La Jolla community (there is a large ex-pat community that lives in that area). Many of the locals look forward each year to the Auction! In the past we have sold everything from Native American flutes to beautiful handmade quilts, some AMAZING handmade chocolates, and some REALLY nice (and expensive) Tequila!
Please help us to make the 2025 Auction the best ever! Bring quality items for the auction and an open wallet to help us help our wonderful Mexican hosts, friends, and those in need!
