"On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...."

This beloved traditional holiday song is the inspiration for a seasonal blog series, "12 Days/12 Ways", an effort to draw attention to 12 worthy not for profit groups in Playa del Carmen and along the Riviera Maya and address their particular needs during this holiday season.

For each of the 12 days of Christmas, the BuyPlaya Blog, better known as "Life's a Beach" will spotlight a charitable organization. Many of these may already be familiar to locals and frequent travelers to this area. Others, perhaps those most in need of recognition and support, may be new to our readers. It is my plan to do this every year, with updated information and wish lists.

The "12 Day/12 Ways" list has been completed for 2010. The organizations are listed in no particular order. If you have a favorite charity that you feel belongs on this list, collect all of the information you can and I will be happy to consider your group for inclusion next year.

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Angel Notion Christmas Program

Angel Notion is the only non-profit medical clinic in the Playa del Carmen area. At Christmas time Angel Notion truly does become an Angel to the community with programs that provide toys and food to needy families for the holiday season. Angel Notion has four separate programs for giving during the season:

  • The special needs (developmentally disabled) children from the CAM school have their Santa wishes fulfilled in a special program.
  • Thousands of soccer balls and Barbie dolls are distributed to children in the neighborhoods on Christmas Eve.
  • Food baskets for the elderly or single, needy people in the community are distributed on Christmas Eve
  • Donors can sponsor families for Christmas.  For a $75 usd donation, Angel Notion will provide the chosen families with food, toys and blankets on Christmas Eve.


All of these special Christmas programs are possible by an amazing family of volunteers and donors that step up each season to donate money and time to make these dreams a reality.

How can you help?

  • Purchase or sponsor the purchase of a toy for one (or more) of the students from CAM (Centro de Atención Múltiple), a local school which educates children and adults born with a host of special needs/disabilities like cerebral palsy, neurological lesions, Down syndrome, visual/hearing impairments, motor disabilities, etc. Heather Anderson has compiled a wonderful list of all the students and their Christmas wishes which can be found here on playa.info. You may contact her through the forum for more information and to help make someone's dream come true.
  • If you are coming to Playa del Carmen for the holidays, think about bringing a few soccer balls and/or Barbie Dolls in your luggage. No baggage allowance to spare? Mega and Walmart always have a great selection of Barbies and balls on sale for reasonable prices. While you are in the grocery store, you might consider picking up a few extra canned goods to contribute to the annual food drive. Toys and food can be dropped off at the clinic (address below) or, even better, come to the fabulous Holiday Party at Luna Blue Hotel and bring your donated items with you! Toys will be distributed on 5th Avenue and at the Clinic in Nicte Ha. Food will be given out at the clinic on December 24th.
  • Please go to the Angel Notion website to donate money to help us fulfill Christmas wishes. All of the Angel Notion programs and services start with generous donations. Please give from the bottom of your heart and they will thank you from the bottom of theirs.
  • Volunteers are needed for the Christmas events, which will take place in the evenings from 4.30pm - 9.30pm, December 16th - 23rd. Please consider taking a shift - or a few shifts - walking with Santa Clause or manning the big Christmas Tree on 5th Avenue at Calle 14. Each night, eight volunteers will be needed to inform people about Angel Notion, help Santa with taking pictures and receive donations. At least some of the volunteers should have good knowledge about Angel Notion and its community programs and support services. For more information and to sign up to help, please contact Rikke Olsen, rikke[at]angelnotion[dot]org.
Angel Notion Playa del Carmen


For more information about Angel Notion contact:
Lavonna Redman
Angel Notion/Ayuda de los Angels A.C.
Ave 10 entre Electrista y Plomero
Colonia Nicte ha
Playa del Carmen Q.Roo
984 127 0780 Celular
984 85 92625 Clinic in Playa
www.angelnotion.org