“It’s just such a good feeling when
you’re able to see the smiles on the kids’
faces and it’s even better when the kids
remember me year after year,” Tracey
said. “They look forward to it and so do
I. That’s part of what keeps me involved
in it. They just come right up to me and
give me a hug or a kiss. It’s really special:
especially when, for some of these kids,
all they receive (for Christmas) is what
we give out to them.”
Tracey credits her mother, Ardist
Moses, and her late grandmother,
Josephine Johnson, with instilling in
her the importance of giving back to
the community. As she recalled, “I can
remember attending events with my
grandmother at her church and helping
her put the church program together.
She always had something to give to
someone; a little something that would
make their day. My mother’s words were
‘It’s better to give than receive.’ So, I took
what they poured into me and poured it
back into the communities.
“I want the world to know that it means
a lot to give back,” she continued. “It can
be small. It doesn’t matter. You might not
think it’s a lot, but the other person will
think, ‘Wow, they thought enough of me
to give me something,’ even if it’s not a
holiday.”
And, in keeping with what was passed
down to her, Tracey has passed the
spirit of giving to her son, Dante Powell.
“He has been involved in Toys for Tots
for as long as I have. So he knows the
program just as well as I do,” Tracey
said, noting that her mother helps out as
well. Between the three of them, Tracey
estimates that they have volunteered
over 20,000 hours to Toys for Tots.
Through years of experience, Tracey
has learned that, “When you give you also
receive.” Seeing the good work, she does,
numerous companies have stepped up
and donated goods and in-kind services.
Over the years she has received large
donations of everything from bicycles,
barstools, and batteries for the toys, to cell
phone cases, books and cases of motor
oil. The New Orleans Pelicans basketball
team donates T-shirts and game passes
and the International Longshoremen
Association donated warehouse storage
space on the riverfront.
Restaurants and other food
establishments have also come forward
to do their part. Various food chains
have donated pancakes, pizzas, chicken
fingers, and other food items. Local
beverage distributors have donated soft
drinks and beer.
Tracey has also worked with the
New Orleans Saints and ENONAC
(East New Orleans Neighborhood
Advisory Commission) with their Toys
for Tots programs. As Senior Volunteer
Coordinator, she has worked
with Sally-Ann Roberts and
Cathy Harris’ nonprofit, Each
One Save One, and with on
Be the Match, a bone marrow
donor organization.
Tracey is also an active
member of Zeta Phi Beta
Sorority (Alpha Gamma Zeta
Chapter), Inc who joined
forces with Phi Beta
Sigma Fraternity
(Theta Beta Sigma
Chapter) in 2017
and volunteer at toy
distribution in New
Orleans East.
In addition,
Tracey has received
community-wide
recognition for
the work she has
done, including a proclamation from
the Mayor’s Office and a Commanders
Award from the Marine Corps’ Toys for
Tots Foundation.
“I get the most excited when I give
back,” Tracey said. “I cry at every event
because I’m so excited. I’m so busy doing
what I do, I never even think about
whether somebody is going to give me an
award or even a monetary donation. I’m
just so happy to be able to do what I do.
“As long as God keeps me on this
assignment I’m going to be on this
assignment for as long as He allows me
to,” she concluded.
Tracey Powell can be contacted at
ptracey83@yahoo.com ��
Tracey Powell, Ardist Moses Tracey Powell, Dante Powell
PHOTO COURTESY OF TRACY POWELL
N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 breakthrumediamagazine.com | BREAKTHRU MEDIA | 23
/breakthrumediamagazine.com
link
