In a recent community event in Orange County, Southern California, the proverb “Many hands make light work” was vividly illustrated. Organizers, participants, and beneficiaries all experienced the social impact of coming together to engage in charitable activities.
This past Wednesday, April 17, several organizations in Southern California, including the Wanyu Foundation, the Walnut High School Parent-Teacher Association, sponsoring businesses, and student clubs, collaborated to host a charity donation event. Setting it apart from other charity events was the integration of social practices for high school students, benefiting the community, assisting families in need, and providing valuable learning experiences for the participating students.
On that day, the bustling figures of over twenty Walnut High School students became a scene outside the Santa Ana Newsong Church. The students worked diligently, some distributing shoes, others moving boxes, some maintaining order, and some providing assistance to guests. Behind them stood members of the Wanyu Foundation, sponsoring businesses, and the Parent-Teacher Association; not far away, police officers ensured order.
Organizers brought along dozens of boxes and over 1,200 pairs of athletic shoes and sandals. Hundreds of residents received shoes they cherished. Young girl Scarlet Teran and her mother tried on well-fitting shoes and were extremely happy. A young mother expressed her gratitude, “I am truly thankful for this event providing us with these beautiful shoes, which have helped many people.”
Student participant Vicky shared, “Seeing the smiles of these beneficiaries, I feel it is very worthwhile, and I am touched to be able to help them.”
With a slender figure, Vicky appeared like a middle schooler but showed great maturity in her actions. As one of the organizers, she, along with other students, started planning over two months in advance, meeting every Sunday to discuss implementation strategies.
Initially excited about the task, Vicky and her peers faced the challenge of how to distribute thousands of shoes to families in need. She said, “I tried my best to understand and ensure that everyone’s voice was heard.” As discussions progressed, their focus shifted from solely fundraising to making the best use of existing resources.
Another student, Liu Chang, revealed that they made many phone calls and sent numerous emails in advance, reaching out to churches and other organizations to find more collaborators. She expressed personal growth through the event, saying, “Previously, I was a bit socially anxious. In such situations, I wouldn’t have dared to speak up before, and my collaborative skills were lacking. However, with this event, I have improved in these aspects, which is the most significant gain.”
Observing people of all ages coming to receive assistance, 10th grader Sophie Ouyang was delighted. She also noted the shining moments of her volunteer classmates: some arrived early to help move items and organize booths. She emphasized, “Being a student with good academic performance alone is not enough. You must have compassion and responsibility. Compassion is crucial for personal development, starting from high school or even earlier.”
Eric Ching, a congressional candidate for California’s 38th district and a member of the Walnut City Council Ching, attended the event as the President of the Wanyu Foundation. Members of the Walnut City High School Parent-Teacher Association and Corney Chee, the President of Blossom Footwear INC., who contributed donations, were also present.
Chee, as an entrepreneur, considered herself fortunate and grateful, stating, “In society, many people may be just starting out or facing challenges. For me, being able to do something to help people around me and give back to society makes me happy.” She believed that donation activities also provided excellent training for participating children, saying, “These students actually lead very comfortable lives. Through this event, they can see many people in need, which can inspire them to help the community more in the future.”
Ching noted the enthusiasm and conscientiousness of the children and expressed his joy, “Look, whether it is the recipients of donations or those involved in donation work, everyone is smiling.” He said, “We need to spread love. I believe that in the process, these children will grow. The donation activities they see on TV are completely different from experiencing it firsthand.”
Lin Xiuzhu, a staff member at the Wanyu Foundation, noted that some parents in Southern California spend tens of thousands of dollars to take their children to projects in Africa, Cambodia, and other places to train them. However, she emphasized that there is no need to go to such lengths; local donation activities in the community can achieve similar results without parents having to spend money. She remarked, “This is cultivating and training future community leaders.”
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