The Children’s Christmas Parties are now memories, but the generous spirit of those parties continues.  Instead of a huge party one day annually, there is now an ongoing commitment to reach out to people that did not even have the means to come to the annual party in Cholla Bay.

Members of the Cholla Bay Sportsmen’s Club hosted parties at JJ’s Cantina on Christmas Day for children from families of limited resource, from the early days of the Sportsmen’s Club.  One year, seems like long ago, John Fowler was chairman of the Christmas party project, and as he spent the $500 allocated by the Sportsmen’s Club, it became apparent that there was much more need in the community than $500 would buy.

John and his partner in JJ’s Cantina, Joe, put their heads together, and the Cholla Bay Santa Claus Club was born to support the annual Children’s Christmas Party.  Now, as it has for many years, the cantina hosts activities all during the year to help fund the Santa Claus Club. Check out their website, jjscantina.com, for a complete list of events – many people plan their trips to Rocky Point around the Chili Cook Off, the One Club Open Golf Tourney, the Bathtub Races, and other events which benefit the Santa Claus Club.  In addition, John and his volunteers collect new and gently used clothes, toys and bicycles year ‘round and assemble them into Christmas packages for children in Cholla Bay, many Rocky Point neighborhoods, Esperanza (the children’s home) and Sonoyta.

 

Cash donations are used to purchase food for food boxes, which are distributed year ‘round, since, as John says, “People need to eat every day, not just Christmas day.”  John and his volunteers spend most of every week collecting donations in the USA, and most of every weekend distributing them in Puerto Peñasco.  You can visit John C Fowler III on Facebook, or check out SantaClausClub.org to see how much generosity is spread about Puerto Peñasco on a regular basis.

 

You will probably want to join the Santa Claus Club; for $20 you get a one-year membership, and 100% of your donation goes to help buy food for disadvantaged families in Rocky Point.  Call John at (602) 840-1528 if you can help collect donations, or transport them to Mexico from the USA.  To join the Santa Claus Club, send a $20 check made to “Children’s Christmas Party,” and send via U.S. mail to Children’s Christmas Party, PO Box 5, Lukeville, AZ 85341. Or drop into JJ’s Cantina in Cholla Bay and join there.  What a great cause that will keep giving all year long… Merry Christmas!