With the holiday season in full swing, some employees of Samoa Tuna Processors Inc. — about 800 are faced with an uncertain financial future, with their Christmas celebrations more than possibly scaled back for their children — or in some cases, nothing at all will be done.

To assist the STP employees in making Christmas 2016 a happy one for their families especially children, Samoan Santa Claus, Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr., kicked off early this month the "Pay It Forward — Toy Drive Project" to ensure that children of the STP employees have smiling faces.

Tapumanaia is working with others in the community to gather toys and present them to STP employees on their last day on the job.

“The project was an initiative that originated with my looking for a way to help my children appreciate the spirit of giving this Christmas,” Tapumanaia told Samoa News over the weekend.

“When Samoa Tuna announced that they would be closing down in December the first thought that came to my mind was the financial hardships of these poor families during the holidays,” said Tapumanaia. “Then I thought about the kids and figured this was the project we needed to do.”

“My children were told that we would work at a ‘Pay It Forward’ project and we decided to collect toys for the children of the families of Samoa Tuna, who were going to be laid off from their jobs,” he said, adding that he explained to his children “that ‘pay it forward' meant that when we do this act of kindness it is with hopes that the person we help will in turn help someone else who is in need.”

Tapumanaia posted the project on his Facebook page and asked for volunteers who would be interested to help. In response, several people volunteered so he put the wheels in motion and contacted the stores e.g. - KS Mart, Neil’s ACE Hardware, Cost-U-Less, Manu'a at Malaeimi and Fagatogo and Laufou Forsgren’s “if we could have our collection bins put in their stores to collect the toys.”

At the same time, Tapumanaia was able to promote the initiative and push for donations on the radio. He also wrote a letter to StarKist Samoa general manager Sangdong Kwon and human resources director Taotasi Archie Soliai to donate the collection drums that are at stores.

Tapumanaia also asked the Manager of Ave Designs, Timothy Teleso to support the initiative by donating the graphics to decorate 6 of the drums, and Tuai Mua of AllStar Signs donated the graphics for the other 6 drums.

He says the project kicked off Dec. 5 and runs through Dec.17th.

“We hope to collect at least 350- 400 toys to distribute. Our distribution date is scheduled for December 19th, which is a Monday, or depending on our collection it could be pushed a few days back. We want to reach our goal by the 17th,” Tapumanaia explained.

“This is not about anyone, any one organization or government department... it’s just a project that my kids and I came up with to spread the spirit of giving, compassion for those in need and to teach my kids the blessings of giving,” he said.

“I am grateful for the volunteers, supporters and businesses who have shown their support. I also thank those people who have begun to donate,” he pointed out. “Those people who will donate soon, I thank you in advance for your kindness.”

“These families will be facing a financial hardship at a time we are celebrating happiness and the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. It’s a time for showing love towards each other and to help those in need,” Tapumanaia said.

“I pray for us to come together and help these families of Samoa Tuna and if you can't donate to this project then give to a family in need that you may know in your community, village or church. That’s what this time of the year is about... I wish all of you Gods love and blessings and may he replenish your kindness with blessings in abundance,” he added.