Sandals Foundation Delivers 45,000 Toys to Children Across the Caribbean

Tens of thousands of children across the Caribbean are receiving holiday gifts through the Sandals Foundation’s annual toy drive, which is delivering 45,000 toys this season — the largest total in the program’s history.

Sandals says toys are being distributed across nine islands where its Sandals and Beaches Resorts operate: Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Grenada, Barbados, Curaçao, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

“The holidays are about hope, the kind that reassures every child that they are seen, valued, and deeply loved, and we’re incredibly grateful to all the partners and volunteers who have been part of this legacy of giving over the years,” said Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation.

The annual toy drive has been running for more than a decade and has delivered more than 170,000 toys to children across the region. The initiative is part of the Foundation’s broader work in education, youth development, environmental programs and cultural preservation.

Led by the Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sandals and Beaches Resorts, the initiative is supported by Spin Master, Jazwares and The Toy Foundation.

Donations this year include puzzles, games, plush toys and creative play items from Spin Master’s Toy Movement, which focuses on providing toys to children facing barriers. The Toy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Toy Association, contributed a range of toys including plushies, building blocks, LEGO sets and figurines. Jazwares Cares donated 10,000 Squishmallows plush toys.

Jamaica is receiving 18,000 toys as part of this year’s distribution. In Whitehouse, Westmoreland — a community still recovering from Hurricane Melissa — the Sandals Foundation and team members from Sandals South Coast hosted a holiday event for more than 400 children. The day included music, crafts, storytelling and visits from Santa and Sandals volunteers.

The event also included psychosocial activities developed in partnership with Sesame Workshop, using Sesame Street characters to help children explore emotions and coping skills following the storm. The celebration concluded with the distribution of toys to children and families in the community

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