“Food of Love” Initiative – Q & A

“Food of Love” Initiative

Date: May 10th, 2020

Moderator:  Elyse Ribbons

All speakers answered the questions from attendees, like what’s your favorite Chinese food, how do you encourage older generation Asian American to vote and get the civic engagement, etc.

At this time of national crisis, when many in the United States are out of work and struggling to make ends meet, United Chinese Americans (UCA) is working with Chinese American partner organizations and other entities to launch the nationwide Food of Love Day. UCA has coordinated with Chinese American communities in all 50 states and more than 100 cities to donate food to the people and institutions hit hardest by the new coronavirus. On May 10th, with funds raised through Chinese civic organizations, Chinese restaurants will prepare food and distribute it for free to all patrons at participating locations. On the same day, many of these establishments will also deliver hot meals to homeless shelters, senior centers, hospitals, and soup kitchens. Chinese American communities will also organize food drives on May 9th and 10th to help replenish the fast-dwindling stocks of food banks and food pantries across the country. May 10th is a significant date in Chinese Americans history. It marks the completion 151 years ago of the Transcontinental Railroad, which early Chinese immigrants helped construct. May is also designated as Asian Pacific American Islander Heritage Month. With the COVID crisis creating so much food insecurity for Americans of all ethnicities, it is a great time to come together and share with our neighbors. UCA is calling on Chinese American organizations, companies and individuals to participate in this high-impact, high-visibility nationwide event. This is a historic first for the Chinese American community. At a time when some people have attempted to stigmatize Chinese Americans, and when there have been numerous reports of harassment, discrimination and even assault against people of Asian descent, our community is undertaking these initiatives in part to demonstrate that whether we are fourth generation Americans, new immigrants or something in between, we are no less American. We care deeply about the welfare of our country and our compatriots and wish to do all we can to be part of the solution. Never before have Chinese communities been so passionately mobilized to provide relief and charitable support to those most vulnerable in our society. In addition to the program planned for May 10th, Chinese Americans have procured and donated millions of dollars’ worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline healthcare professionals, first responders and vulnerable citizens. UCA has also held fundraising drives and volunteered in huge numbers for local civic efforts aimed at combatting the virus and its devastating effects on the nation.

For more information, please visit our website: https://ucausa.org/food-of-love/

Let’s honor the memory of our forefathers and make history together!