Local business owner celebrates 55th birthday by donating 55 dinners to Meals on Wheels

And her giving spree continues with more donations to the Grand River Clinic and Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health Clinic

By Carolina Saenz

Acts of kindness and generosity often go unnoticed as bad news dominates the media.

So, sharing these amongst the community is especially important to show that kindness is present in Paris!

My-Thai’s restaurant owner Vanh Kalong is an example of the vibrant and caring people in the community To celebrate her 55th birthday on March 27th, Kalong chose to donate a total of 135 meals

Since the My-Thai Paris location is their corporate store headquarters, contributing to the Paris community was an easy choice With the hopes to be in Paris for many more years to come, and with personal connections in the community, Paris has a special place in Kalong’s heart

“On a personal level I have MY Motherin-law who lives in the community and my Stepson used to go to Paris High. Paris is close to my heart and how can I not? It’s Canada’s Prettiest Town,” she explains.

All 135 meals will be prepared at the My-Thai Paris location. Fifty-five of the meals went to the Meals on Wheels program on Friday March 31st, picked up and delivered by Christine Aston Thirtyfive meals will be going to the Grand River Clinic in Brantford, and thirty-five more will be going to the Addiction

Clinic in Simcoe The meals for the Addiction Clinic were requested by Mary Caringi, who reached out to Kalong personally.

“Her message touch me deeply as she was asking for those in need and not for herself,” she shares. Four more meals will be going to a local family who also reached out directly to Kalong.

“Community belongs to us and we belong to them, it is our responsibility to look at our left and turn to right, lift each other up and be there for one another where we can. We can change our own little world one life at a time. We after all are here to serve one way or the other I am feeling blessed and grateful to have the opportunities to give and live in community that enrich my life,” Kalong concludes. The Paris Independent thanks Kalong for her contributions and wishes her a very happy birthday!