SAN FRANCISCO –– More than 3,500 bags of groceries were distributed to mostly Chinese American residents in San Francisco just eight days before Thanksgiving.
In Chinatown, a line of 2,800 senior, disabled and low-income residents winded up on Sacramento Street and around Waverly Place through the volleyball and tennis courts of Chinese Playground awaiting a $25 bag of about a dozen mostly Asian foodstuffs, including tea, vermicelli and noodles, along with a handful of potatoes from the local Food Bank.
“This time, we have Chinese sausages (Lop Cheung), which they really like,” said Julia Lin, director of the Chinese Newcomer Service Center, which helped organize the annual food drive. “We have better food. We have more quality food. Donations stay the same. But the number of people who want the food increases.”
All total, more than 100 volunteers gave away some $30,000 to $40,000 in donations.
“In light of the food stamp legislation [by the state], it’s not really very good for the community because they want to cut the food stamps for the low-income and seniors,” said Lin.
Filling the vacuum was Eddie Tsang, a philanthropist, and main sponsor and founder of the ninth annual distribution. “We rely on private donors instead of the government. … We try to take care of our own people, he said.
According to Tsang, a former president of the Chinese Six Companies, the program started with 30 volunteers serving 500 in 1996. Last year, it benefited 4,500 households.
“We have at last count about 35,000 low-income families around San Francisco, around Chinatown,” said Tsang. “We want to grow [the program] citywide.”
As Tsang spoke, a Pacific Gas and Electric van gently maneuvered among beneficiaries of the drive to shuttle foodstuffs for later distribution in Visitacion Valley and Richmond neighborhoods.
Pitching in earlier that morning, 30 high school volunteers or young “Leos,” tied with the Chinatown Lions Clubs, and had sorted and bagged the groceries, some of which were purchased through $7,000 in donations from the Lions.
“For over two hours this morning, we packaged over 3,000 [bags],” said Macy Mak Chan, president of the club. “This year, this was the first time we passed out the food.”
Lions member Margaret Lee, a Newcomer High School teacher, had recruited the “Leos” to take foodstuffs from boxes and bag them.
Where to Help
Donors can contribute to a special account at any Bank of the Orient branch:
Bank of the Orient
c/o the CNSC Community Food Drive
Account No. 654-148-220
SPONSORS
Eddie Tsang
Oriental Grocers Association
Chao Suet Foundation
Poon Foundation
Portsmouth Plaza Parking Corporation
S.F. Chinatown Lions Club
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
S.F. Recreation and
Park Department
S.F. Police Department
PARTICIPANTS:
• Chinese Newcomers Service Center
• Academy of Chinese Art
• Kai Ming Head Start
• True Sunshine Preschool Center
• Wu Yee Children’s Services
• CYC
• Self-Help for the Elderly
• Chinatown Community Development Center
• Chinatown Community Children’s Center
• Gum Moon Women’s Resident
• Asian Women’s Resource Center
• Charity Cultural Services Center
• Asian Pacific American Community Center
• Maintrain
• Charity Cultural Services Center
What’s in the Bag
• Fudge Brownie (8.5 oz)
• Veggie Chicken Shreds (10.5 oz)
• Jasmine Tea (100 bags)
• Chinese Sausage (12 oz)
• Soy Drink (8.45 oz)
• Soy Sauce (150 ml)
• Vermicelli (250 g)
• Rice Sticks (16 oz)
• Noodles (12 oz)
• Pickled Cabbage (150 g)
• Green Tea Drink (8.25 oz)
• Peanuts (6.3 oz)
• White Potatoes (3)
• Crackers (1.34 oz)
• Chili Garlic Sauce (8 oz)
• Raisins (16 oz)
• Mango Gummies (33 g)
• Chili Oil (8 oz)