By Lisa Herrick
Jaisen Yuen is an expert at the claw crane. Yes, the arcade game also known as the claw machine that is filled with plush and colorful stuffed animals which seem virtually impossible to grab. Yet Jaisen has honed his talent reaching his goal of acquiring 100 plush toys with the hopes of distributing the animals to less fortunate children.
Sandra Yuen, Jaisen’s mom provides the background story to this unique talent. “Jaisen has always had a knack for playing arcade games ever since he was little. I remember one time he could barely see the top of the game. He had to tiptoe, and seemingly just dropped a token into the slot and won the jackpot. The lights started flashing and the sound blared. I couldn’t believe it. I think he won a couple hundred tickets. Jaisen loves plush toys so he started to gravitate towards claw machines where he even watches YouTube for tips and strategies. In the Fall of 2014, I started taking Jaisen to Odyssey 1 as a reward for excellent school work and grades, and for being my shopping helper. He plays the claw machine and wins numerous plush animals. We talked about what to do with all the prizes and decided it would be nice to donate them to needy kids at Christmas.”
In addition to collecting the plush toys, Jaisen began researching options to give the toys away. “Most charities just wanted me to drop off the toys into their collection bins but I wanted to be able to hand them out so that I could see the kids’ reactions. I wanted to see if they liked them,” says Jaisen.
The Yuens were having difficulty finding an opportunity where Jaisen could personally distribute the plush toys to other children. Then fortuitously he was in for an eye exam with Dr. Mary Ferris of Olympia Vision Clinic. Ferris is a member of the Junior League of Olympia (JLO), a community volunteer organization focused on supporting children and families in our community.
Sandra and Jaisen mentioned the trouble they were having to Ferris. By coincidence, Ferris was preparing for JLO’s annual Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Foster Kids Holiday Party. During this event, foster children throughout Thurston County come to play games, enjoy crafts and visit Santa. Ferris was able to arrange for Jaisen to personally distribute the plush toys.
Dimity Prenger, Committee Chair for the JLO Foster Kids Holiday Party describes the event as “a wonderful way to celebrate foster families and foster kids of Thurston County. At this party, the kids are able to come and just be kids. We have food, games, crafts, prizes, presents, and even a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The event was unlike anything I have ever seen. It is one thing to just give money or donate items to a charity around the holidays that helps kids, but it is entirely different to see the kids in person. I think the most heart warming moment was when Santa Claus walked in and this little boy ran up to him and screaming, ‘Santa, Santa, Santa!’”
Prenger admits that Jaisen and his distribution of the plush toys were just as touching as the excitement of seeing Santa. “For someone at 12-years-old to already have a spirit of giving to others less fortunate, his peers even, I couldn’t help but want to help him achieve his goal. I believe that if we teach or foster empathy at a young age in kids, they will continue to contribute great things to the community and become excellent role models for the next generation.”
Jaisen came to the event thrilled to be able to share the plush toys with the children at the party. He spread the stuffed animals out on a table and the kids lined up to select their favorite ones. “I am so happy that the animals are going to get used for something good. They all were so happy. Some of them were jumping up and down, others were cuddling the animals and commenting how soft they are. It was really cute to see. I like to help out my own community and I hope to get to give away more.”
“I am so proud of him. He started this goal at age 11. Now he is 12 and he is making other kids happy. Jaisen has always had a generous and caring nature. I’m fairly certain this will be an on-going effort and hope it brings as much joy to the foster children as it has brought to Jaisen,” shares Sandra.
Jaisen has recently accumulated over 100 plush toys and was able to give away 45 animals at the JLO Foster Kids Holiday Party. Other charities interested in Jaisen personally distributing plush toys can contact Sandra Yuen at 253-209-5329 or the-yuens@hotmail.com.
