Giving leaves us all with a good feeling, right?

Can you support us today? Help us to help others, please.

Our last box of gifts and party supplies needs to ship by about December 1, and we seek more fundraising than ever. We are trying to add more bikes and tablets as gifts for our beneficiaries at the party.

We feature a:

Party

Gifts

Santa

Clown, music, entertainment, dancing, and treats

Face painting

Food

Smiles all around!

This is year 12 for our charity from this side of the sea in the USA and 18 for the Dominican Republic Group--- giving smiles (regalando sonrisas) to children (230+ last year) with a huge party and Christmas toys in this Gurabo barrio of the northern Dominican Republic city of Santiago. Trustee Pattie Clark, Catholic University Class of 1980, and Trustees Rosy and Kevin Carlin round out US leadership with plenty of advice and support from each of you. Marina Mejia heads a group of over 20 who help make the party a success for children in the DR.

Generous folks like you who donate toys or money help make a great Christmas party with food and gifts, Santa and characters, candies and treats, tablets and bikes, yes, bikes! Bicycles are gathered throughout the year and shipped to the DR for impoverished kids who often have trouble getting enough to eat. Selected by local educators with insight, your charitable donations reach the neediest. Ours is an invitation-only event to assure the right kids receive the object of your charity.

But all of this comes at a cost naturally. Your monetary donations help cover expenses for the clubhouse rental, the buying of gifts and tablets, purchase, repair, storage, and shipping costs for bikes and boxes (upon boxes) of gifts, food, pizza, candy, party items, and for miscellaneous expenses.

A new Santa suit remains on the 2025-26 wish list too, although our "Santa suit challenge" brought us part of the way home in 2024. To avoid the heat near the equator, a breathable (also very expensive) wool suit is a necessity. This year we will make it happen for sure -- with your help.

Besides this GoFundMe, you can send toys and donations to us at F 21 Shirley Ln., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 (Zelle or Venmo or checks payable to Rosy Carlin or Give Me a Smile, a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation). Please make sure to send us your mailing and email address for a proper "Thank You."

Due to shipping constraints, smaller is better for toys ages 0-10, and we like to suggest clothes and watches, Barbie-style dolls, and uninflated balls. But all of your new and gently used gifts are welcome in our shipping boxes and at the party. Clothes are appreciated for ages 10-12.

Some 230+ kids and parents will again be eternally grateful for a wonderful day, party, and Christmas gift.

God bless you all at Christmas, in the New Year, and throughout the year.

Marina Mejia, Gurabo, Santiago, DR

Rosy Carlin

Pattie Clark

Kevin Carlin

Give Me a Smile, a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation

US Tax identification number: 84-3696047