Paid to Play Episode 19: the one where the author visits an orphanage in Guatemala just before Christmas and donates food and supplies on behalf of Gap Adventures.

One morning, I woke to find an e-mail in my in-box that said the company I am working for, Gap Adventures, wants to donate $500 dollars of supplies and gifts to Casa Guatemala, an orphanage a few kilometers away from the small river town of Rio Dulce. I was informed that I was the tour leader that would pass through the area next and if I would wisely purchase and deliver the donation on behalf of everyone at Gap. Done! It's so easy to spend someone else's money for a good cause. My passengers and I went to the local supermarket and bought everything requested and more: stuffed animals, toothpaste, deodorant, hair clips, powdered milk, bread, pens, pencils notebooks, crayons, toys, hoola hoops, and soccer balls. We also showed up with a couple piñatas for the kids to smash the hell out of along with a metric ton of candy that I'm sure made the orphanage staff squirm in discomfort once they saw it all.

The kids and my passengers had a blast. We bought some Frisbees and soccer balls and it seemed like we spent the first half hour of the visit ducking all the air born objects. Then the piñatas came out ...one for each age group... and the kids demonstrated their ability to swing a stick, along with their disregard for said swinging stick once some candy hit the floor and everyone scrambled for their share of the loot.

This was a fantastic experience and I feel lucky to be the one passing through just in time to play Santa for some kids in need. For those who are more interested in this very worthwhile organization, their website is www.casa-guatemala.org/overview.php