Written By: Nayaab Afzal
Revised By: Ru Xue Jiang and Sara Kong
On December 24, the AYLUS Dix Hills Branch dedicated their time to help out the Long Island Helpers to pack groceries, toiletry items, and toys for the less fortunate who needed this Christmas. Some families picked the items up from us and the Long Island Helpers and AYLUS volunteers helped delivered the rest of the items to their homes.
Giving gifts to low income families can be a thoughtful and compassionate way to show that you care about them and want to make them feel special, regardless of their financial circumstances. It can also be a way to provide support and assistance to someone who may be struggling financially. By giving a gift, you can help to brighten someone’s day and make them feel valued and appreciated. Additionally, giving gifts to all those of low income can also be a way to express gratitude for their presence in your life and to show that you are grateful for the ways in which they have enriched your life.
All the items we received for today’s event were given by the kind donations of others. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has generously donated to this cause. Every contributor’s kind and selfless acts of giving have not gone unnoticed and have greatly impacted the lives of those in need. This allowed us the numerous activities that we’ve done today.
Starting with the packaging, we are able to organize materials that fit the specific needs of each respective family. Volunteers worked to pack toys in boxes categorized by the family, amount of children, gender, and age. Children this holiday season can experience the enjoyment of a surprise of a present that their families are typically unable to provide due to their financial status. We also packed grocery bags filled with a multitude of ingredients for large festive holiday meals, such as potatoes, chicken, pasta, rice, coffee, cookies, and many more. Furthermore, we took toiletry items and packed them in boxes, as sanitation and hygiene are crucial to one’s health. Once we finished, we took the boxes and bags, separated them per family, and put a list of addresses for delivery. Some families picked the items up from us and the Long Island Helpers and AYLUS volunteers helped delivered the rest of the items to their homes. The AYLUS Dix Hills Branch believes that this project is very impactful as it helps make a memorable Christmas with joy and cheer for the children and families.
Volunteers: Nayaab Afzal (3 hours), Ru Xue Jiang (3 hours), Sara Kong (3 hours), Christina Mink (3 hours), Ming Chen (2 hours and 30 minutes), and Nadia Khan (2.5 hours) greatly contributed to the accomplishment of this event.
