Each year on April 30, Mexico celebrates Día del Niño (Children’s Day)—a holiday dedicated to the joy, well-being, and rights of children. This year, members of the Rotary Club of Playa del Carmen Seaside marked the occasion with two heartfelt outreach missions, spreading cheer to children in both the village of El Cuyo, Yucatán and the General Hospital in Playa del Carmen.
Through thoughtful planning, generous donations, and hands-on service, our Rotarians helped ensure that children from different walks of life felt valued, remembered, and celebrated.
A Delivery of Joy to El Cuyo
One team of Seaside Rotarians took to the road, traveling several hours north to the small coastal town of El Cuyo, Yucatán. Their cars were packed with gifts: 100 pairs of brand-new sneakers, toothbrushes, soccer balls, arts and crafts supplies, crayons, coloring books, and more.
This delivery was made possible through a continued collaboration with Goyo and Pilar, beloved owners of El Hongo, a socially conscious restaurant and community hub in Playa del Carmen. Seaside Rotary has partnered with Goyo and Pilar before—helping fund food programs at their community center and distributing sneakers as part of our ongoing Kicks4Kids initiative.
In the lead-up to the visit, Goyo coordinated directly with local families and provided Seaside Rotarians with a detailed list of every child’s name and shoe size—ensuring that every pair of sneakers fit just right. This personal touch is what made the delivery so impactful. For some of these children, it was their first time receiving new shoes tailored just for them.
To top it all off, the Goyo provided several piñatas bursting with candy, giving the children a true Día del Niño celebration, full of laughter, treats, and community spirit.
Bringing Comfort to Children in the General Hospital
Closer to home, another group of Seaside Rotarians spent the day bringing smiles to children who couldn’t leave their hospital beds to celebrate. Our members visited the pediatric ward at the General Hospital of Playa del Carmen, delivering not just gifts but more importantly, empathy, joy, and distraction from difficult days.
Among the volunteers was Dr. Vicky Moro, a Seaside Rotarian and pediatrician who dedicates her time regularly at the hospital. For this special day, she transformed into Anna from Frozen, captivating her young audience with music, kindness, and a bit of Disney magic.
Alongside Vicky’s delightful performance, the group brought crayons, colored pencils, markers, and coloring books—creative tools designed to help children pass the time during treatment or recovery. These supplies may seem simple, but for children facing the uncertainty of illness or surgery, they offer moments of calm, creativity, and normalcy.
A Mission of Service
While the two Día del Niño efforts unfolded in very different places, they shared a common thread: Seaside Rotary’s commitment to children’s well-being and the belief that even small gestures can make a big difference.
Whether delivering shoes to a child in a rural town or kneeling bedside to offer a coloring book and a smile, our members live out Rotary’s motto—Service Above Self—with compassion and humility.
Both the El Cuyo outreach and the hospital visit are part of larger, ongoing efforts by the Rotary Club of Playa del Carmen Seaside. Through every project, we remain committed to building partnerships—like those with Goyo and Pilar—and uplifting the most vulnerable members of our communities.
Of course, none of these efforts would be possible without the support of our members, donors, and community partners. Your time, generosity, and belief in our mission make it possible for us to turn special days like Día del Niño into lasting memories for children who need it most.
If you’d like to support or get involved with Seaside Rotary’s community initiatives, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us to learn more about our ongoing projects, upcoming volunteer opportunities, donation needs, or how to become a Seaside Rotarian. Together, we can ensure that every child in our region feels seen, supported, and celebrated—not just on Día del Niño, but all year long.
