BAVINA SOOKDEO
In the heart of Corinth Hills, San Fernando, Paloma Montano is spreading joy, one toy at a time. Montano has turned a personal passion for collecting dolls into an annual Christmas toy drive that not only honours her late son, Sergio, but also brings smiles to the faces of countless less fortunate children across Trinidad.
Montano, 54, who began the toy drive in 2018, shared her inspiring journey and the magic she continues to weave through Paloma Toys Drive with Newsday.
“I’m a person accustomed to donating to orphanages,” she said, recounting the genesis of her mission. “One year, while visiting San Fernando, I saw donated dolls in no good condition at all. So, something resonated in me and an idea was birthed. Someone gave me a couple dolls as I'm a doll collector, and I cleaned them up, posted them on my Facebook page and reached out, asking if anyone had (dolls) to donate for me to clean up and give to less fortunate children.
[caption id="attachment_1048999" align="alignnone" width="1024"] New Barbie dolls collected for Paloma Toys Drive. -[/caption]
"A friend saw the post and inboxed me (noting) that it could be the start of something. She gave me the idea to start a used toy drive, and that was the start of Paloma Used Doll Drive.” She advertised for me, and I also set up three locations for toys to be donated – north, south and central. Then I decided to start one for the boys ...I couldn't leave them out.”
The tragic loss of her only child, Sergio, in a vehicular accident, added a profound layer to Montano’s mission.
“Before the passing of Sergio, he used to go with me to a children’s home in Preysal, Couva. His death still weighs heavy on me, but I had to continue with my soul purpose of putting smiles on children’s faces.”
The visits to the children's home began in 2009 and continued yearly until 2012. In 2013, she was unemployed and could not carry out the mission, and Sergio's death in 2014 affected her tremendously. She resumed her charity work in 2016 donating groceries to the Hope Centre, San Fernando. While there, she observed the poor condition of the toys donated to the centre. That inspired her to clean up the dolls she received and give it to the centre in 2018.
[caption id="attachment_1049000" align="alignnone" width="768"] Paloma Montano with her doll collection. -[/caption]
The success of the used toy drive prompted Montano to transition to a new and grander scale in 2019.
“In 2019, God spoke to me and showed me to shut down the two used drives and start a new toy drive. The pandemic in 2020 reinforced this decision when orphanages stopped accepting used items.”
Challenges posed by the pandemic in 2020 didn’t deter Montano, instead, they inspired innovation. “Daddy God spoke again – 'advertise that you would be sanitising and mobilising.'” Thus, Paloma Toys Drive became an annual Christmas event.
“In 2020, I distributed in Maracas and Blanchisseuse. Children were surprised and not a toy remained. In 2021, we ventured to Mayaro, Manzanilla and Mafek
