Vietnamese American Community Toys for Tots | Sunday, December 12, 2011

I have been an avid volunteer with the Vietnamese American Community for as long as I can remember. My parents’ involvement sparked my interest and with their encouragement, I began volunteering my time. I can proudly say I have been at their Toys for Tots event since 2007 and I love every minute of it! 

Of course, this year was extra special since I was able to hand out the toys with the sparkle of my Miss Texas Collegiate crown. Before passing out the toys with the other volunteers, I told the children eagerly awaiting their toys to always remember to be grateful of what they are about to receive. Christmas isn’t always about the gifts we receive, but about what we can give to others. 

When it came time to pass out the toys, nothing beats the exhilaration of seeing a child’s face light up and saying, “Thank you!” upon holding their bag with a new Christmas present. 

Christmas has long passed, (I can’t believe it’s already been more than 11 days!) but I still remember the warm feeling in my heart after the toys were passed out and all the volunteers were cleaning up. It’s a feeling I’ll always cherish and why I come back to the event year after year. 

Also, I have a little treat for those of you who can read Vietnamese. I wrote a short article on my feelings of volunteering at two different Toys for Tots events. Check it out on Viet Bao Daily here: 

http://vietbao.com/D_1-2_2-44_4-185140_6-1_15-2_12-1_5-15_17-4_14-2_10-4611/