Cozumel 3 Kings Day: How You Can Put a Smile on a Child’s Face by Kathy McGinn

Celebrated on January 6th, “Dia de los Reyes Magos”   is a catholic holiday celebrated on the final day of the “12 Days of Christmas”  In Mexico, children traditionally leave out their shoes with a bit of hay in them to feed the animals of the Kings, so that in the morning, the hay is replaced with toys and gifts.

For the past five years, island resident, Susan Bonnet and her “Los Ninos que Limpian Cozumel”  neighborhood group have been collecting toys, toothbrushes, and other items to ensure that less fortunate children on the island will have a very happy 3 Kings Day.  Over the years, her backyard project has grown and really become a community event.  Through it all, Susan, who has also served on the board of the Cozumel Red Cross, has quietly assisted the Cozumel community without any fanfare.  Sadly this year, Susan is facing health issues that will prevent her from participating in this year’s 3 Kings Celebration.  Another island resident, Kathy McGinn, has graciously stepped up to continue the tradition in Susan’s place.

Susan will shy away from a camera – she likes to quietly stay in the background and give the credit to people who will help her, help Cozumel.  But it was a camera lens that finally captured the love Susan Bonnett has for this island and the people who live here.

Four years ago the group went to Las Fincas, an area full of wonderful families.  Each year Susan gathers up gifts for this group and there’s more!  She includes the people living at Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II, Cozumel’s nursing home, and the Bomberos – firemen who dedicate themselves to keeping us all safe.

But this year Susan won’t be able to do the work she loves.  In September, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has to her turn attention to fighting instead of giving.  But before she started that battle, she addressed her first concern – taking care of the people she loves.  She made some calls and taking that call was tough for her friends.  Not only do they worry about this wonderful lady – those are one big pair of shoes to fill!
Last year alone, Susan and her helpers gave out over 450 gifts to the children of Cozumel.  Each year, however, they run out of presents before running out of children.  That’s why toys (small or large), baby items and – even though it’s not the children’s favorite gift – tooth brushes, paste and dental floss are always appreciated.  If your budget says no, free stuff like soaps and shampoos from hotels are welcome and the girls just love those perfume samples we all receive.
Susan’s friend Jan at the No Name Sports Bar & Restaurant is helping collect the donations or you can simply send an email to Kathy McGinn at woofem@me.com or Gena Meyer at caribdivergena@gmail.com and we’ll make arrangements to pick up the donation.

Please keep our brave friend Susan in your prayers.  Nothing will be better than her return to the work she loves and the opportunity to snap one more picture of the lady who has a heart as big as Cozumel.

This story originally appeared in the weekly Cozumel 4 You NEWS – the island’s number one source of positive information about our island!  Be sure and subscribe to the weekly NEWS to find out all the island events!…

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Laura Wilkinson

Author at Cozumel 4 You

An ex-Connecticut Yankee who has called Cozumel home for over 18 years, Laura ran away to the Caribbean years ago, bumped around the islands teaching SCUBA diving, lost some time in Jamaica, and finally stopped in Cozumel for a 2 week vacation that hasn’t ended yet. With a degree in Journalism from a fancy private college she convinced her parents to pay for, Laura writes, edits, and creates the weeklyCozumel 4 You news,social media, and promotional articles about the island, as well as moderates the Cozumel 4 You Facebook group, which currently has over 25,000 members. Her long suffering husband, Fabian, has long since resigned himself to having zero private life, as he’s been involved in her various schemes and plots since his arrival. Proud parents to a variety of rescue dogs and cats, Laura continues to be the bane of her traditional Mexican mother-in-law’s existence, as she muses her way through life in the Mexican Caribbean.
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Una ex yanqui de Connecticut quien llama hogar a Cozumel desde hace más de 15 años. Laura escapó al Caribe hace años, desplazándose de una isla a otra dando clases de BUCEO. Se dedicó a perder el tiempo en Jamaica y finalmente se detuvo en Cozumel para pasar unas vacaciones de 2 semanas que aún no terminan. Convenciendo a sus padres que pagaran una elegante universidad privada, obtuvo su título en Periodismo y Laura crea semanalmente Cozumel 4You, medios sociales y artículos promocionales sobre la Isla y también es moderadora en el grupo Cozumel 4 You en Facebook que actualmente cuenta con 25,000 miembros. Fabián, s umuy tolerante marido, desde hace mucho tiempo se resignó a no tener vida privada, pues se ha visto implicado en los diversos proyectos y planes que urde Laura. Son orgullosos padres de diversos perros y gatos rescatados. Mientras contempla su paso a través de la vida en el Caribe mexicano,Laura continúa siendo la pesadilla en la existencia de su muy tradicional suegra mexicana.

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