'I've never felt love like this': Donors and volunteers gather in Anyang for giving day

Anyang held its 13th annual Donation Day ceremony Tuesday at the city hall auditorium, bringing together more than 700 residents to reflect on the value of community giving.

The ceremony opened with Korean dance and harmonica performances by residents from community centers in Seoksu 2-dong and Gwanyang-dong, before the Victory Cheerleading Club raised the energy with an upbeat celebratory routine.

The highlight of the event was a symbolic "Light of Sharing" performance that wove together acts of giving from across the city. Ten participants took the stage: two children who had donated through piggy-bank drives; one citizen representative, Park Hyo-seon, a visual artist who received this year's Anyang Citizen Award in the arts and culture category; two senior representatives, Kang Cheol-geun and Yun Yong-ho, chapter heads of the Korea Senior Citizens Association for Manan-gu and Dongan-gu respectively; and four corporate representatives from Koscom, LS, Intops and GS Power. The performance was designed to symbolize a spirit of giving that transcends individuals and companies, generations and neighborhoods.

A commendation and donation ceremony followed, in which nine individuals received a mayoral citation for their contributions to spreading a culture of giving. Nineteen companies also took part in a formal donation handover.

A range of side events gave residents a chance to participate directly throughout the day.

On the second floor of the city hall annex, an exhibition of entries from a sharing-culture competition ran alongside a corner introducing giving stories from all 31 of the city's neighborhoods. Visitors scanned QR codes to browse each neighborhood welfare council's giving activities and fundraising results for the year, and left encouraging comments for their neighbors.

Businesses and organizations also set up sponsorship and experience booths. Ottogi ran its "Yellow Kitchen" food truck, while the Suri Welfare Center for People with Disabilities brought a "Macaron" coffee cart as part of its disability-awareness campaign. The Byeori Village sheltered workshop and Hey Dough Bakery donated bread, and the Goodwill Store Anyang branch contributed daily necessities. The city's volunteer center, family center, senior club and Gwanak Welfare Center for People with Disabilities also set up booths to meet with residents.

Artists lent their talents to the occasion as well. Park contributed a calligraphy rendering of the event's theme slogan, deepening the spirit of sharing, while artist Baek Jong-ha ran a caricature booth as a talent donation, giving visitors a special keepsake from the day.