Kilometro del Juguete for Melitón Albáñez

Each year, together with our teachers, students and other businesses in Todos Santos, Pescadero & Cerritos Beach, we organize a toy drive around the holidays to benefit the farming community of Melitón Albáñez.

To purchase, transport to Todos Santos, organize, wrap and deliver over 500 toys for the boys and girls from new born age to teens is a massive undertaking.

The first time they came I was 13, my first year in Baja away from grandparents. [I received] a ball and I was happy. They brought my little siblings gifts [too], it means so much to us! The following year  they came back with special gifts for everyone; I got a  fluffy pillow, a lipstick and jewelry. Muchas, muchas gracias, Dios se los pague! 

I love, love my soccer ball, I have scored many goals with it. Thank you, Three Wise men for sending gifts with these people all the way to my casita. 

Thank you to each and every person who makes its all possible! It’s impossible to include all the things each of you have done, but we’ve done our best to include every person who made it all happen here!

• Aime for keeping us organized and insuring there were enough gifts for each child from babies to the teenagers.

• Lizeth, Alejandra & Anaid for spending their free time between classes and after school to wrap and count all the gifts.

• Peter & Ann Cavaretta for bringing suitcases full of gifts from NY, and for providing the transportation for the gifts and volunteers.

• Patricia Robbins and The Ronald MacDonald House of Westchester, NY for collecting so many gifts over the months.  

• Mike Brinkman for photographing the day so beautifully.

• Laura and Jim Herrick, for being long-time supporters and bringing such joy to the nursery with their donations.

• Ryan & Lauren Lowe who organized a toy drive from their own holiday party that provided over 100 toys for donation.

• Michael Sheehan for bringing soccer balls and Adidas backpacks from the States. 

• Christopher Miller and Diana Pandell for donating so many soccer balls (the most popular gift!) and candy & chocolates.

• Ken & Susan Churchill for their generous donations.

• Samantha Buckley for donating nail polish for the teens and their moms.

• Jennifer Nichols for bringing so much wrapping paper that for the first time we not only had enough to wrap each gift, but we have some left for this coming holiday season.  

• Brandon from Shaka’s Cantina in Cerritos for helping to collect toys.

• Sam & Drew from The CO-OP Baja for their donation and support

• Tom & Jo Williams, Juanito Smith, Joy Abott, Sirah Vettesse  & Michael Wise, Gail Botch, Ann Boland, Kevin Brown, Lindsay Appel, Derek Peterson, Anne Hebebrand, and Laura Wiiliams for their financial contributions to help buy additional toys and supplies.

• And thank you to ALL of our donors and volunteers who made it all possible: Kate Turning, Spencer Evans, Lisa Welsch, Margariette Timmermans, Kelly Ann Cavarretta, Carol Glenn, Larry & Deborah Crowson, Sarah Gay, Janice Kinne, Michael & Susan McFadden, Rouss Ramirez, Dennis & Ann Chapman, Nancy Serfas, Pamela Martin, Kathleen Dickinson, Doris Delgado, Jaime & Laura, Sheryl Reyli, Chuck & Ruth Herren, Buzz Tarlow, Celia Devault, Linda, Karen Bennett, Ryan Vathn, Robert, Ann Patterson, Elizabeth Reynolds, Kate Paul, Susan Johannsen, and Brian Talbert.

Want to get involved? It’s never too early to start planning!

• Collect toy donations to bring to Baja on your next trip.

• Games that can be enjoyed with other kids, or educational and artistic supplies are wonderful gifts!

• Get your circle of friends or neighborhood to organize a toy drive!

• Message us in December to volunteer to separate, wrap, and deliver presents.

• If you are away from Todos Santos, you can contribute from the comfort of your home by sending a donation.

Please message us with any questions about how to be part of this coming holiday season!