One of the great things about this program is that it's voluntary. They aren't forcing anyone to donate, or even forcing anyone to read this thread. I participated because I wanted to. I donate to similar programs at home too. Let's say that I get suckered 1 time out of 100 (heck, we can even say 10 times out of 100) and that the child isn't deserving of new toys because he/she already owns a goat bladder. Well, I'm still beyond happy that I might have put a smile on 90 or 99 children's faces, and it's a "risk" that I'm willing to take.
In the grand scheme of things, I am very, very fortunate. Certainly the fact that I can afford dive trips to Cozumel demonstrates this. It makes me feel good that I am able to share this fortune just a teeny bit - whether it be supporting food, housing, education, or toy programs - and am thankful for groups like Karen's that provide me with an easy opportunity to do so.
:xmas_2:
For those of you who might participate: Last year, I was able to find some Barbie-style dolls that are from the Disney Fairies line that aren't the traditional blond hair, blue eye dolls. They had dark eyes and dark hair, and I thought might be nice for a young girl in Cozumel. I also found that stuffed animals don't weigh much and don't take up much room in a suitcase. Play-dough, on the other hand, had to go back on the shelf at Target. I sure thought it would be fun but it's heavy when you're trying to stick to the suitcase weight limits! I liked the idea of bringing down soccer balls, but didn't have room. Of course if you are buying toys at Mega, size and weight wouldn't be an issue. I assumed the prices would be better at home though, so bought before my trip.
(That said, I'm sure Karen would have better ideas if you want them!)