Written by Hsiulien Chu
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
People often say, “Old friends are the best.” For Tzu Chi USA Southern Region volunteers in Houston, Texas, there is a group of “old friends” residing at The Lev at Town Park, a skilled nursing and assisted living facility that provides long-term care for older adults with limited mobility or family support. For more than 30 years, Tzu Chi volunteers have visited every month, rain or shine, to bring care and warmth to the residents, many of whom live alone, building deep friendships and bonds of enduring love.
Consistent Care Builds Lasting Friendships
“This nursing home was one of the first that our Texas chapter began caring for. It’s been over 30 years since our earliest volunteers began visiting the home,” Tzu Chi volunteer Kueiying Lin recounted. “We saw that the residents rarely had contact with the outside world, so our team made an effort to design interactive activities during every monthly visit, bringing comfort to the residents’ bodies and minds. Each month, I plan different activities so they can use their hands and move their bodies. Most importantly, seeing their smiles is the greatest reward.”
During the activities, volunteers incorporate festive themes and creative games, which not only encourage participants to move their bodies but also help keep their minds active and enhance their ability to express themselves. What’s especially meaningful is that each month, volunteers introduce a Jing Si Aphorism and use puzzle games to guide the residents in memory recall and word formation, then invite them to share their thoughts. Lin believes that these activities not only help train hand-eye coordination, but also offer inspiration for the spirit.
Whenever the volunteers arrive, the facility’s staff always assists by bringing the residents to the common area. “The staff are a great help,” Lin said with gratitude. The support from the staff ensures everything runs smoothly, allowing volunteers to focus on building connections. “The residents are always so happy to see us, and the atmosphere is very lively. We can call them by name, and they recognize us as well. Over time, we’ve developed a deep bond, which gives us even more motivation to serve the community.”
Helping Residents Overcome Language Barriers
One day, Tzu Chi USA’s Southern Region Office in Houston received a call from a staff member at The Lev at Town Park stating that they had a new Chinese resident who didn’t speak English. The volunteers seized the opportunity of their monthly visit to introduce themselves.
However, the new resident, Yuzhen Wu, turned out to be no stranger to the volunteers. She had previously come to pick up fruits and vegetables at the distributions co-organized by the Southern Region Office and the Houston Food Bank. These food pantry services not only support new immigrants and their families, but also offer significant convenience and help to Asian residents living near Houston’s Chinatown, as the office is located in the same vicinity.
Wu arrived in the United States on August 28, 2019. She had originally planned to return to Beijing on January 26 of the following year, but the COVID-19 pandemic left her stranded. She ended up living alone in an apartment building near the Tzu Chi office. After being hospitalized due to an accident, she was transferred to a rehabilitation center upon discharge, but insurance limitations led to her placement at The Lev at Town Park. Because of the language barrier, the staff at the nursing home were unable to fully understand her needs, which caused her some frustration with the care she received. On top of that, she had difficulty adjusting to American food, adding to her anxiety.
Volunteer Shioubih Yang, who has a nursing background, patiently explained the facility’s procedures to Wu and promised to visit her regularly, hoping to ease unnecessary misunderstandings and fears. “Whenever we have time, we’ll bring her a meal or stop by to see her, so she knows she is cared for and not alone,” Yang shared.
We are also very happy to have had this opportunity to build a good relationship with her, visiting her and helping her resolve some issues.
Jean W. Hsu, Deputy Executive Director of the Tzu Chi USA Southern Region, also helped Wu understand English legal documents and guided her through the paperwork and process required for immigration applications, supporting her through an unfamiliar and challenging period of transition.
Fostering Vitality and Sharing Wisdom
The Lev at Town Park has a large number of residents, so Tzu Chi volunteers often invite community volunteers to join them in providing care. In addition to assisting with physical exercises, they also share Jing Si Aphorisms, using Master Cheng Yen’s teachings to offer emotional comfort and inspire reflection among the residents, enriching their lives with timeless wisdom.
Community volunteer Jatin Tekchandani Ruchel enthusiastically participates in the caring activities. The more he gives, the happier he feels, as he has seen how the volunteers’ presence brings joy to older individuals who are often without family visitors. “When we come there, they all come together. Now they have a community, and we give them a reason to move. Movement is life,” Ruchel said.
If you move, you are alive. The more movement, the more alive you are. The more you stay still, the faster you die. So we are giving them life by giving them movement.
During the Tzu Chi team’s visit on June 21, 2025, volunteers shared the Jing Si Aphorism, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” and used it to engage residents in meaningful interaction, encouraging them to share and learn from one another. Witnessing the lively exchange that followed, Deborah Evans, a nurse at the facility, felt deeply moved.
Touching the Heart Inspires Compassion
“I enjoy every minute of this organization coming here, because it brings joy, not only to me but to the residents that are here. And they look forward to this every time,” Deborah Evans, a nurse at The Lev at Town Park, said with emotion.
It makes them smile. It gives them energy. It just gives them, how would I put it, power the following day to do something different.
Evans, who has worked at the facility for nearly nine years and has great affection for the residents, spoke highly of the Tzu Chi activities. “The things that your organization brings to them are like an extension of exercise,” she said, adding, “The mind games, the board that you put up to help them remember things, the movements that you give, it helps their joints, it helps their bones.” All combined, the volunteers’ visits truly address the body, mind, and heart, offering a rejuvenating and meaningful experience for the residents.
Tzu Chi USA Southern Region volunteers in Houston have nurtured kindness and compassion in the community through years of steadfast presence and practical action. Those they have served have felt the warmth and strength of Tzu Chi’s care. With your love and support, their efforts will continue to expand and flourish, touching more lives.
