I would rather see the real poor children get more. Not all these migrants are poor. I saw the picture of some of the children in the paper and they were dressed just like any American child.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16234488.htm


Posted on Thu, Dec. 14, 2006email thisprint thisMigrants' kids get early visit from SantaGIFTS FROM SANTA COME EARLY FOR 200 CHILDREN OF MIGRANT WORKERS AND OTHER LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
BY EVAN S. BENN
ebenn@MiamiHerald.com
When Santa handed 5-year-old Shakeita Berry her present Wednesday, the little girl could barely lift the box that was almost as tall as her 3 ˝-foot frame.

Shakeita was one of about 200 children who celebrated an early Christmas party Wednesday evening at Florida City Elementary. The party was for some of the poorest children in Miami-Dade, most of them the children of migrant farm workers. And the present they received from Santa at the party might be the only one they get this holiday.

It was the 15th year the Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida has teamed with several Miami-Dade law firms to make sure all the kids in the Migrant Academic After-School Program experience the joy of getting a gift with their name on it.

''It's something we started so long ago, because we saw a need for it in the community,'' said Shelly Cartaya, the event's founder. ``Now it's something we can never stop, because the kids look forward to it every year.''

Cartaya started the holiday gift-giving party in 1992, after Hurricane Andrew devastated South Miami-Dade. She saw the way migrant families in Florida City and Homestead especially struggled to recover, and she wanted to bring them cheer during the holidays.

The after-school program offers tutoring and extra-curricular help for the youngsters, ages 4 to 11, who attend Florida City, West Homestead and Laura Saunders elementaries.

The tutoring is a regular activity, but the holiday party is a once-a-year treat.

''It's like, all year long, this is what they are waiting for,'' said tutor Bianca Rodriguez, 23.

''I was here every year from the time I was 5 until I was out of the program,'' Rodriguez said, remembering the Barbies and Cabbage Patch dolls she brought home from the parties.

When all the kids had their gifts in hand, Cartaya gave them the OK to tear into them. While dozens of kids ripped through wrapping paper, unveiling remote-controlled trucks and board games and gift cards, a few sat quietly, keeping their presents tightly wrapped.

''Their parents tell them not to open their gifts until Christmas, because they know they might not have anything else to give them,'' Cartaya said. ``That's very emotional.''

Shakeita needed a friend to help her open her massive box, which turned out to be a make-your-own princess bear kit. Shakeita nodded and smiled her approval, saying in a shy, quiet voice, ``It's pretty.''