HOUSTON (May 18, 2020) — Local Asian-American leaders in coordination with the Southwest Management District donated significant resources today to help residents of all backgrounds overcome food shortages triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Joint Chinese College Alumni Association presented a donation of $40,000 that will enable the YMCA, the Houston Food Bank and Brighter Bites to distribute 120,000 more meals to needy families.
The donation, the latest show of support by Asian-American groups and individuals, was announced at gathering at a YMCA food distribution site in southwest Houston where hundreds of residents, in a line of vehicles that stretched for four blocks, received food today. With support from the Southwest Management District, the organizations and individuals have also provided massive amounts of protective medical gear and food to front-line health care personnel and donated cash to aid the personnel’s families.
In the last nine weeks, the YMCA has distributed more than 5 million pounds of food to more than 260,000 people, officials said, as residents have lost jobs and income because of the pandemic.
Today’s event included the following remarks:
Alumni Association president Judy Jeng: The pandemic “affects everyone, so we all have to work together to fight back. It doesn’t matter about our religious beliefs, political affiliations or our races, we are all in this together.”
State Rep. Gene Wu: “We want to make sure everyone survives… so join with me and push back against hate, push back against bigotry, push back against Asian-American sentiment, push back against anti-immigrant sentiment and say we are all a part of this community and we will get through this together.”
Council Member Edward Pollard: “Days like today bring a smile to my face because I see all the hard work you do to push our community forward.”
Brian Greene, president/CEO of the Houston Food Bank: “This generous gift from the Joint Chinese College Alumni Association will help (us) by providing additional non-perishable items to produce-focused distributions in (Gulfton) and Alief. We are grateful for organizations like the Joint Chinese College Alumni Association as their support will help us be able to continue to provide food for better lives throughout this difficult time.”
Lani Alcazar, Brighter Bites program manager: “Partnerships like this are crucial in keeping our community healthy and strong.”
Southwest Management District board chairman Kenneth Li: “We are working hard to serve you. The management district is proud to be part of it.”
In a related move, Southwest Management District board vice chairman Fred Bhandara announced his donation of seed money that will lead to at least $50,000 more in funding for the Food Bank. He and the management district are each donating $15,000, while the Zoroastrian Association of Houston, of which he is a member, is donating almost $10,000, to be matched by Sysco, the Houston-based food distributor.
Read about it in the Houston Chronicle
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