Megan Vallee is only 10-years old, but for many local children this holiday season, she’s the answer to their prayers.

Recently while dining with her family at a local restaurant, Megan noticed a Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree on display. When the Antioch fifth-grader began reading a few of the tags asking for gifts and essentials for needy families for Christmas, she asked her parents if they could help. The answer, of course, was yes, so in her enthusiasm Megan took all of the remaining tickets – approximately 15 – off the tree and popped them into her pocket.

“Megan was very moved by the fact that all of these children were just asking for simple basic needs such as jackets and clothing and some very simple toys,” said Reggie Vallee, Megan’s dad. “My daughter has competed in beauty pageants for the past several years, and she decided to use her winnings from the pageants for the gifts.”

Megan and her mom went out, purchased the gifts and delivered them to the Salvation Army. But Megan wasn’t done. Another family dinner in Brentwood yielded the same results: Megan spied another Salvation Army tree and pulled off the remaining five tickets.

Megan’s act of kindness has not only been a boon to the Salvation Army this season; it has given much to the Vallee family as well. “After our visit (to deliver the packages to the Salvation Army) we drove away with a whole new perspective on charity and the great impact it makes on our community and the amount of assistance that’s needed to support what they do,” said Reggie. “The Salvation Army is a wonderful organization.”