Photo By Janecze Wright | Rudina Pool and her daughters pose in front of "The Giving Tree" Dec. 7, 2023. Pool...... read more read more
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FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — Fort Cavazos Cavalry Family Housing resident Rudina Pool never thought her idea to take an old Christmas tree that had given so much joy to her family and use it to give the same happiness to others would resonate with so many, but she was wrong.
Instead of trashing her beloved six-year-old Christmas tree, along with some old toys her daughters had outgrown, Pool opted to give the cherished keepsakes new life as a staple to inspire giving to others during the holidays.
“I was going to toss a lot of my kids’ toys and the tree, but instead, I figured I’d turn it into something positive,” she said.
After placing the tree in her front yard, along with the gently used toys, stuffed animals and some new additions she purchased, Pool’s would be trash is now a neighborhood treasure affectionately named “The Giving Tree,” which provides free toys for kids and embodies what the spirit of the holidays is truly about.
Pool wasn’t sure how others would feel about her gesture. Thankfully, her generosity was well received. So much so, that others were inspired to follow suit.
“I put it on the community page, and everyone was ecstatic,” she said. “But what made it that much more magical was so many people donated. I really didn’t expect such a positive outpour with the tree.”
Pool said it was wonderful to see, both figuratively and literally, as her doorbell camera allows her to view parents and children who came to drop off donations.
She became emotional as she recounted the hardships that resonate with parents and military families every day, which inspired her to help in any way she could.
“I’ve been in the shoes where holidays come around and things get tough,” she recalled. “I’ve seen families who need help with gas or to get to and from because they don’t have a car. So, it’s difficult for parents to choose, and I’ve been in this position where it’s like do I get my kids toys, or do I get myself gas, do I get toys or do I get food?
“I think it’s just important the fact that the community is coming together,” she continued. “And it’s showing so many families that they’re not alone. That if they reach their hand out, someone is going to be there to help in any way they can.”
Pool noted that her husband, Staff Sgt. Trevor Pool, is deployed in the Republic of Korea and as a busy mom of three young girls with a spouse who is often away from home, she appreciates how the community comes together to help and support one another.
Pool conveyed that the smallest gesture could have the biggest impact.
“Sometimes, it’s not exactly going to be the biggest help, but for me, I feel like the smallest thing can be the biggest sometimes and I’ve seen how small gestures go such a long way,” she said.
She added that she hopes her efforts create a legacy of change and motivates others to be the change they want to see in the world.
“I believe that if you want to fix something, it starts from you to make a change, it starts with you,” she expressed. “Even if no one ever remembers my name, it doesn’t matter to me. I know my kids are going to grow up one day and I don’t want them to be basically in the same world we are in at the moment. The main thing I’m hoping from this is that it gets passed down. That the next person does something even bigger.
“I just want a domino effect,” she continued. “I just want it to slowly blossom into something even bigger and even more beautiful. So that’s my hope with this and even if it doesn’t, that’s okay. At least I know that it put a huge smile on a lot of people’s faces, including mine.”
| Date Taken: | 01.11.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 02.08.2024 12:05 |
| Story ID: | 462286 |
| Location: | FORT CAVAZOS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 20 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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