2018 Bimini Christmas Toy Drive

[Bruce]

Every summer some of us enjoy a trip to the amazing blue waters of @Bimini. There are approximately 500 children who live on the islands. Most of their families have little income and even less access to stores to buy Christmas presents for their children.

For the past four years the Vander Werf family has organized a toy drive to deliver presents to those children. Last year they delivered presents to 500 children in Bimini. I plan to contribute a few presents this year and thought some others might want to join me. They are focused on presents that do not use batteries as they are very difficult to obtain on the islands. They also operate a charitable foundation through which tax deductible donations can be made and used to purchase presents.

In 2016 and 2017 many of us donated toys to these deserving children. You can read the 2016 thread at https://jetboaters.net/threads/bimini-christmas-toy-drive.11881/ and 2017 at https://jetboaters.net/threads/2017-bimini-christmas-toy-drive.15820/. Pictures of the 2016 toy delivery are in this post https://jetboaters.net/threads/bimini-christmas-toy-drive.11881/page-4#post-207838

You can look at this post for ideas of the types of toys that have been given https://jetboaters.net/threads/bimini-christmas-toy-drive.11881/page-4#post-206542 . Toys that do not require batteries are best as batteries are expensive in Bimini.

The toys will be delivered on 62 foot Boondoggle who joined us in Bimini in 2017 and 2018.

This years delivery will be even better with @JROD The Red Nose Reindeer and his jet powered sleigh participating in the delivery.

Those that are interested can send presents to

Ken Vander Werf
4160 N Hwy A1A #901A
Hutchinson Island, FL 34949

The toys will be delivered December 15th so please get your donations delivered before the 12th.

@Karie Vander Werf may be able to answer any questions that you may have.

 

[Bruce]

 

[Mike & Lilly]

We are in my wife and i will be donating some toys.

This is a beautiful thing.

 

[afsigma21]

Shipped you a couple items from Amazon, more to come.

 

[Speedling]

Sorry i posted some cool pics of some of the kids we met in another thread here:
https://jetboaters.net/threads/2019-bimini-trip-unofficial-thread-until-admin-puts-official-one-up.18897/page-18#post-344024

 

[Bruce]

The Vander Werf's received a pair of soccer balls from a Peter in Texas and are wondering if he is a JetBoater?

 

[afsigma21]

I sent 2 soccer balls via Amazon and I think they shipped from Texas

I thought I put my call sign in the address , maybe not. 2 "Urban Black street" soccer balls.

Probably me

 

[Bruce]

@afsigma21, you may have been the first JetBoater to donate. Thank You!

 

[BigAbe75]

@Bruce What do you think about kids books? English is the primary language, right?

My wife sells Usborne books. I could post a link to her “store” and anything sold could be shipped directly to Vander Werf’s. After $100 sold, they would begin to earn free books that could also be sent.

If you’re not familiar, it’s a home based sales thing where they have “parties”. I hesitate to post, as she would generate a small amount of income on the sales. Basically, she would set up this event as a party, so anything free or discounts earned could be offered straight to the drive.


Edit: We recently did a local drive for one of the churches in town that does an annual Coats for Kids campaign. Each kid also received a book along with their coat and clothing that was able to be procured.

@BigAbe75s Wife just said that she would donate any proceeds from sales back to the toy drive in the form of additional books.

 

[Bruce]

@Rana, @Emma, @Gavin and I just sent 10 water color pads and 16 coloring books for the toy drive.

 

[Bruce]

I just noticed that they have a wish list on Amazon. This makes it too easy to bring smiles to the kids in Bimini!

https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/29HSUFNX2UMV6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws_4eF6BbAY3EDQ9?fbclid=IwAR3q1jLost2Gqh1yFkqw-UpU7LUYB9CuiJ7fSJMSpjIDqIabgifcqQiB7w0

 

[Bruce]

The toys are being delivered on Friday and they are hundreds of toys short. If anyone would like to give this is the last week to do so.

 

[Mike & Lilly]

We send 2 boxes with toys a while back hope they received them, my wife told me the confirmation said they did, wish we could have done more.

 

[Mike & Lilly]

And guys if u go to Amazon with 20 dollars u can buy a couple of toys. Hope more members join this great run.

 

[afsigma21]

Sent a couple more items today!

 

[Julian]

Bought 7 items off their list on Amazon...

 

[Bruce]

@JROD, Trudy, the Vander Werfs and the rest of the Bimini Toy Drive Crew found that the wave forcast was drastically wrong this morning. They made it about a third of the way from Hutchinson Island before retreating through Jupiter Inlet and taking the Intracoastal home. Boondoggle suffered some damage. A dish separated from the bridge and crashed onto the deck below and the dingy davits broke loose damaging both Doogle B and Boondoggle.

The crew has gone above and beyond by booking FRS Caribbean ferry tickets and repacking the 600+ gifts for shipping on the ferry. FRS has provided a discount on the tickets, setup a Saturday freight service and discounted the freight cost. Sluggo and Renee’s golf cart rentals and Jenny Cook plan to be waiting to help transport gifts when the ferry arrives.

 

[Betik]

Glad to hear that FRS was helpful.

Bummer on the damage although I know how that feels ( though I bet this is going to be a LOT more expensive than my damage )

 

[Bruce]

Update from the Bimini Toy Drive.

 

[Bruce]

Despite the rough seas the Bimini Toy Delivery was a success. The Boondoggle crew stuck it out, persevered and brought joy to 500 kids! I hear reports that our very own @JROD has started a new career as a fire trucking riding Santa. I am hoping that he will jump in next year. Perhaps @Kevin Sargent will arrive as Santa in Frogman style?

All photo credits to Juan