"Hoping Not a Single Family Gives Up on Life"... 80s Senior Donates 10 Million Won Collected Over 8 Years of Recycling

From the left, Yoo Jaewook, Chairman of Daejeon Community Chest of Korea, and Lee Hyungjin, a donor, are taking a commemorative photo for joining the Sharing Leader program. Community Chest of Korea

The Community Chest of Korea (Chairman Kim Byungjun) announced on July 22 that it has appointed Lee Hyungjin (87, baptismal name Joseph), who donated 10 million won collected over eight years by gathering waste paper and recyclables, as a 'Sharing Leader Gold Member' of the organization. To express gratitude and respect for Lee Hyungjin's noble act of sharing, the Community Chest of Korea held a donation handover and appointment ceremony at the Daejeon branch on July 21.

Despite his advanced age, Lee Hyungjin spent the past eight years collecting waste paper and cans, saving every penny to accumulate 10 million won, which he donated to the Community Chest of Korea. The donation will be delivered to a single-parent family living in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, and will be used for practical support such as rental housing deposits, housing expenses, and surgery costs.

Donation and letter delivered by donor Lee Hyungjin. SaranguiYeolmae

Lee Hyungjin said, "Recently, I witnessed incidents in the community where families gave up on life due to extreme choices. Hoping that not even a single family would have to give up on life, I decided to make this donation," and added, "Giving is not something grand or reserved for special people; anyone can do it in their own way." He continued, "I feel my life is gradually coming to an end, but I am simply grateful to God that I could practice such a meaningful act of sharing at the very last moment."

In particular, Lee Hyungjin included a handwritten prayer in a letter, which was delivered along with the donation to the single-parent family. The letter read, "Hope is the driving force of life. When you stop, you lose everything. O God, source of love! Please watch over this small act of sharing so that it may become a new sprout of hope for the family of a lost young boy whose name I do not know."

Letter content directly written by donor Lee Hyungjin. Community Chest of Korea

The Community Chest of Korea expressed gratitude for Lee Hyungjin's sincere act of sharing and appointed him as a 'Sharing Leader Gold Member.' Lee Hyungjin was registered as the first 'Gold Member' in the Daejeon region for 2025.

Yoo Jaewook, Chairman of the Daejeon Community Chest of Korea, stated, "The donor's act of sharing goes beyond simple help; it is a great practice that embodies one person's conviction and philosophy. This donation will serve as a milestone of hope for countless people."

'Sharing Leader' is an individual donation program operated by the Community Chest of Korea, granting membership to individuals who make a one-time or pledged donation of at least 1 million won within a year. Depending on the donation amount, members are classified as 'Green' (over 1 million won), 'Silver' (over 5 million won), or 'Gold' (over 10 million won). The Community Chest of Korea is spreading the value of sharing through the operation of various donation programs.