OAPIA Attracts Many To Its Annual Toy Drive and Holiday Celebration

By Michelle Phipps-Evans

Several children converged at the Old Council Chambers at One Judiciary Square in Northwest Washington, D.C., for the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (OAPIA)’s annual “Share a Smile, Give a Toy” Holiday Toy Drive celebration on Dec. 13. More than 340 donated teddy bears, Lego sets, dolls and cars made the more than 140 children happy.

For Mei Mei Kong, the festivity drew her to the annual event.

“I came here last year when I volunteered with AALEAD,” said Kong, 26. “This year, I brought my son, Nathan.” The six-year-old received stuffed animals and he loved the horse, his mother said. AALEAD is the Asian American Empowerment and Development for Youth and

Families, a community organization that offers enrichment programs to low-income Asian youth. Children with AALEAD in bright orange T-shirts danced for the excited audience on an unseasonable warm evening. Other entertainers sang for the crowd.

“I was so excited to come to the toy drive,” said Tan Trinh, 7. “The balloon maker was my favorite part.”

Children watched a movie, and were treated to photographs with Santa Claus and balloon sculptures by one of Santa’s elves. Also, several food stations featured different Asian foods and desserts.

The 340 toys were collected from local organizations and District residents for children from infancy to 15 years of age.

“This took about two or three months to collect,” said OAPIA Director Soohyun “Julie” Koo, whose agency leads the effort. “It’s open to the public. Some of the organizations we work with brought the children, and we have these big bags of toys to give them. And all this food was donated.” The children stood in line for tote bags of toys, separated by age.

The event attracted other District government agency heads.

“I’ve come to support the Office of Asian Pacific and Islander Affairs, trying to connect with people, and support the community,” said Jeffrey D. Richardson, director of the Mayor’s Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs. Also on hand for the festivities were the directors of the D.C. Office of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the D.C. Office on Aging.

“It’s great. This is my second year,” said Toni Sanao, one of several volunteers. “It’s gotten bigger. Last year it was in OAPIA’s office and this year there’re lot more kids.”
Since 2005, OAPIA has been holding the toy drives as a way for District residents to give back to their community. More than 1,500 toys have been distributed to the District’s children and youth since the drive started.
“It is amazing to see so many people set apart some time in their day so that disadvantaged children can have gifts to look forward to this holiday season,” Koo added. “Our success is built on our community coming together for a great cause, and based on…turnout, I can happily say that we had overwhelming support from our District residents.”

OAPIA received support from 26 organizations and individuals this year, which included such organizations as Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, Asian American Justice Center, Center for Asian Pacific American Women, Chinatown Service Center, Korean American Grocers Association of Washington, Mandu, National Association of Asian American Professionals – DC Chapter, Naval Sea Systems Command – Asian and Pacific Islander Resource Group, PNC Bank, Senoda Inc. and the many community members who came out in support of the toy drive.