Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles donated $30,000 to assist Chinatown elderly


Picture 1: Abraham Chu (sixth from left) personally handed a donation of $30,000.



Picture 2: On the packaging box are written thoughtful words of "Love, Warmth, Taiwan" and "Difficult times together and Successful Protest", with a red heart being painted.



Picture 3: Abraham Chu presented a delicious bento to the elderly at the Cathay Pacific Senior Apartment.



Hop Sing Tong Association President Stanlar Wong and Ying On Merchants & Labor Benevolent Association President Yu Cuimei volunteer to distribute the meal.

On June 15Th, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles launched the "Taiwan Love Meal Delivery for the Elderly" program at the Cathay Pacific Senior Apartment by donating $30,000 to CCBA, who plans to utilize this funding to conduct the luncheon charity activity. Lunch box has a logo of “Taiwan Can Help”. This allows the elderly to feel the warmth and love from Taiwan.

Abraham Chu, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, and Tony Ong, Deputy Director, attended the event. Abraham Chu personally presents the donation, and on behalf of the volunteers, distributed the first hot meal of the day to the elderly in the apartment.

Abraham Chu, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles said he is very happy to have the opportunity working together with CCBA to promote the spirit of great love and be involved with the distribution of lunch box activity to the Chinatown elderly. Taiwan’s love, not only disseminate in Chinatown, but also spread through the much needed help within the mainstream government agencies and convalescent homes via the Southern California overseas Chinese leadership. This is the best portrayal of “Taiwan Can Help”.

Tony Ong, Deputy Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles also said that both CCBA and Chinatown Service Center have been promoting the lunch box and medical supply activities for the elderly since the virus outbreak. This is grateful and admired by many, therefore should be supported by all sectors.

CCBA President Mei Lau, Vice President Ernest Lee, Chairman Andrew Kwong, Vice Chairwoman Angela Cai, and Advisors Michael Cheung, Peter Leung, Wu Xiqi, and Chinatown Service Center Executive Director Peter Ng, as well as Cai Qiguang, the head of Cathay Pacific Senior Apartments, and Tan Ruheng, Chairman of the Management Committee, Hop Sing Tong Association President Stanlar Wong, Ying On Merchants & Labor Benevolent Association President Yu Cuimei, Chinese Women’s New Life Movement Club Vice President Mabel Luu, and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles Director Amy Wang, Deputy Directors Kevin Yeh, and Viola Cheng, and Cultural Center of Taipei Economics and Cultural Offices in Los Angeles Deputy Director Florian Chien all 30 of them attended the event on the 15th.

Abraham Chu said that the elderly living in the senior apartment in Chinatown are severely affected by the pandemic. Besides worrying about the health problems, most elderlies are inconvenient to travel. In addition, many nearby supermarkets have been closed before the pandemic. The stay-at-home order has also been imposed so that visitors such as relatives and friends are banned to visit. This leads to cooking problems as they are unable to purchase groceries. Therefore, he is very happy to receive support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and pass on love to the elderly.

Starting from April 20th, CCBA and Chinatown Service Center will jointly deliver meals at least three times a week to the nearby Chinatown senior centers. They will also provide package includes masks, gloves, protective equipment and daily essentials.

300 lunch boxes, with sticker printed the map of Taiwan and written with “Taiwan Can Help”, and "Love, Warmth, Taiwan", "Difficult times together and Successful Protest", will be prepared by Chinatown’s long established Golden Dragon Restaurant. Starting in April, CCBA and Chinatown Service Center will deliver meals to the elderly. Peter Ng said that these seniors are all at high risk group. Some have trouble moving around, and relatives are unable to visit. At the beginning, the target was 300 residents, but now it exceeds 1,300.

CCBA President Mei Lau said that the prior fundraising from Gil Cedillo, the city counselor of the first constituency of Los Angeles, plus donation from the community, totaled $45,000, will assist about 500 residents from Cathay Pacific Senior Apartment, Chinatown Metro Apartment and Grand Plaza for their meal problems during the pandemic. Lunch box will be distributed at least three times a week (usually on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) to the senior centers. Chinatown Service Center Executive Director Peter Ng indicated that total received from the fundraising including the $30,000 from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles reaches $110,000. Los Angeles elected U.S. Representative Gil Cisneros also donated $25,000. He is very thankful to the Los Angeles City Hall, the community and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles for their generous donation, so that the elderly from vulnerable groups can be taken care of.