| More than 700 toys collected for evacuee children |
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The Advocate By EMILY KERN Zach Bonner, 9, of Valrico, Fla., and founder of the Little Red Wagon Foundation, has collected more than 700 toys from people all over the country, including neighbors, churches, his Cub Scout troop, Build-a-Bear Workshop and other companies. He started working on the project in August. Others built on what Zach started, and now several other agencies are helping to throw a Christmas party today for residents of Renaissance Village. A visit from Santa is scheduled, and each child will receive several gifts. Zach asked Smithfield Hams to donate 250 hams for a Christmas dinner. But then celebrity Rosie O’Donnell stepped in to cater the dinner. O’Donnell and her For All Kids Foundation already have been involved at Renaissance Village, building a playground and family center, which opened in October. Zach decided to save his hams for a New Year’s dinner at Renaissance Village, giving residents the chance to have two holiday meals. Catholic Community Services, the American Red Cross, Family Road of Greater Baton Rouge, and many other agencies also are involved. Children and their families living in some of the other FEMA trailer park sites are invited. Zach, wearing cargo shorts, a T-shirt and an elf hat, helped his mother and other volunteers with preparations Thursday. They unloaded gifts, set up Christmas trees and hoped for good weather. “It’s not just from one person or two organizations, it’s from the whole country,” Zach said of the party. “I’ve had people from all over the country send gifts,” he said. Zach’s public service began at 6, when he heard a radio report about Hurricane Charley victims needing food, water and supplies, said his mother, Laurie Bonner. Zach grabbed his red wagon and asked his neighbors to help fill it with donations. When the wagon was full, Laurie filled her pickup truck with the rest of the things Zach collected. Zach continued to collect items for four months and took 27 truckloads to the distribution center. His public service work has continued over the past three years, with Zach organizing a celebrity memorabilia fundraiser on eBay, participating in a 24-hour event to raise awareness about homelessness and collecting school supplies for needy children. Bonner said her son is able to deal especially well with the tough topics he encounters. While working on the homeless project, “He found out a lot of stuff 9-year-olds shouldn’t know about,” Bonner said. “He handles it really well. “I think that’s a talent he has that he will carry with him throughout life,” she said. In his free time, Zach plays baseball, is active in his Cub Scouts troop and plays piano. He is a third-grader at a school in Valrico. But, his mother said, “He likes to be nonstop busy.” “It’s fun for him,” Laurie Bonner said. “There’s not many kids who get to have a party and invite 700 other kids.” Photo by Richard Alan Hannon |
