A local tattoo artist in Cocoa has not always had the easiest life, but that has not stopped him from doing whatever he can to make his community a better place to live in.
Inside the tiny corner shop, the Big Bang Studios on Brevard Avenue, works a well known tattoo artist, but Jamie Wong is not just known for his impressive art work. He is quickly becoming a community hero.
“It was a whim like two weeks before Christmas I think we decided to do it, but we ended up getting like $2,500 in toys for local kids,” Wong said
Toys for Tattoos, where if a person donated a today, he or she would receive a tattoo, was a simple idea that has grown in size. Now three years later, Wong estimates Big Bang Studios has collected close to $10,000 in toys for local kids.
“One year I had to tattoo one of my friends just so I could afford to get surf boards for my kids. I’ve been there and had to do that for myself, but now that I’ve established myself as an artist I can do this for a ton of kids now,” Wong said.
And as a single parent, Wong says his store is one of the main reasons he does what he does.
“It was when I realized my kids wanted to be like me, so that really made me change. Just knowing someone wants to be like you and watching you at all times, it's really just setting a good example for them,” Wong said.
And the future holds more work for Wong.
“I don’t have any intentions of stopping anytime soon. Eventually I see myself traveling around the whole U.S. and trying to spread love and little hope around everywhere you know,” Wong said.
Toys for Tattoos is not Wong’s only good deed. He also recently started doing community dinners at Riverfront Park each week that helps feed local homeless people.
If you would like to see more of Wong's work or find out more about his charitable work check out his Facebook page.