Santa Cruz, Guanacaste – A local charity plans to give children in Guanacaste a very special reason to smile this Christmas. Una Sonrisa por San Cruz (A Smile for Santa Cruz) is an organization that has identified 150 children living in low-income neighborhoods across the county, and who could certainly benefit from getting a little help this holiday season.

According to Primero en Noticias, an online news site from the Guanacaste province, A Smile for Santa Cruz has set a goal for collecting 150 Christmas gifts for children, but it will welcome even more presents so that the goal can be exceeded. According to organizer Krisbel Villafuerte,

We work on this initiative because Christmas is a time for dreaming and sharing, but it is a foremost season for making dreams come true and making others happy. In this case, we want to make little boys and girls happy not just with presents but also with the spirit of solidarity and goodwill that should reign during the season.

It is through this spirit of goodwill and generosity that we hope to collect 150 Christmas presents that we can take to neighborhoods where socioeconomic conditions are lacking; we want to bring to these children the illusion of Santa Claus and his noble work, we want to see them smile.

Although Guanacaste is experiencing tremendous economic growth thanks to the tourism and real estate development of communities such as Playas del Coco, many neighborhoods across the province are being left behind. This traditionally agricultural region is currently suffering from the highest unemployment rate in Costa Rica as well as troubling income inequality. The work of groups such as A Smile for Santa Cruz is greatly justified in Guanacaste.

Residents from Guanacaste or anywhere else in Costa Rica who would like to contribute to this noble cause should contact Krisbel Villafuerte via her Facebook Timeline or via telephone at 7104 0350 or 8630-0055