Written by Huiping Wang and Hsin Yi Lee
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ariel Tsai
On July 28, Tzu Chi USA Headquarters held its annual Back-to-School Day backpack distribution at the San Dimas campus, aiming to serve families in the surrounding community. This year marked the second year of the event. Although located in a relatively affluent area, the volunteers remained convinced that “where there is need, Tzu Chi is there,” and continued to proactively serve underprivileged families, caring for students’ learning needs and helping children start the new school year with a fresh look.
Delivering Warmth to Families in Need
To ensure that families in need could access this resource, volunteers sent information about the event to the school district before the summer break, asking schools to help distribute the message. They also posted announcements on social media, so more families could register and apply. In addition, volunteers specially invited care recipient families, whom they regularly support, to come and receive backpacks, as long as there were school-age children in the household.
Among the care recipients at the event were three generations of Peter Chang’s family, who have long been cared for by Tzu Chi volunteers, and a man from the Tiny Home Shelter, long supported by volunteers, who brought his children to receive backpacks. Another woman, whose daughter has been suffering from frequent seizures after brain surgery (leaving her as a caretaker and unable to work), came with her grandson and daughter-in-law to take part in the distribution.
Welcoming Guests in a Joyful Atmosphere
The volunteers divided up the tasks and began preparing for the event early in the morning; some were responsible for registration and balloon decorations, others assembled backpacks, snacks, and fruits. Before the event began, fruits, snacks, and juice were laid out on the tables. Volunteer Huiping Wang prepared rainbow cards for the children to create art. Some children drew “love,” others drew the Tzu Chi logo, and after watching a Tzu Chi video, one child wrote “Tzu Chi’s Footprints of Love” on the card. Many of these spontaneous creations turned out to be surprisingly impressive and moving.
At the start of the event, Huiping Wang led the volunteers in singing a welcome song to greet the arriving families with enthusiasm. Afterwards, Tzu Chi USA CEO Debbie Lee extended her blessings, and volunteer Sharon Chu played a short video introducing Tzu Chi, along with a Q&A session to help everyone better understand the Tzu Chi spirit.
Huiping Wang said, “Our care recipients today include certain school districts in the San Dimas community and some families we regularly support. About ten families came today. Some we knew, some came to our campus for the first time. We introduced Tzu Chi and provided some activities for the children.”
The Chang Family’s Six-Year Connection with Tzu Chi
Peter Chang and his family, three generations who have received long-term care from Tzu Chi, participated in the event together. Peter Chang recalled his deep bond with Tzu Chi: “We are deeply grateful to Tzu Chi for caring for our family over so many years. From the beginning, after we encountered some difficulties, Tzu Chi quickly helped us. It’s been five or six years now. Every year, they keep in touch with us and invite us to every activity. I’m really grateful for all the help Tzu Chi has given our family. My father and my children all really like Tzu Chi. Thank you.”
Peter’s father, Haitang Chang, expressed his thanks: “Thank you to Tzu Chi for the meticulous care you’ve shown our family these years. I’ve also done some Tzu Chi volunteer work for five or six years. Thank you for your care and love for our family.”
Peter Chang’s daughter, Wanchiao Chao, made a thank-you card at the event: “I am very grateful to Tzu Chi for giving me new school supplies and stationery. I feel their care for me, so I drew this picture. I’m very happy today because I received new supplies, and we also got food. Thank you so much.”
Volunteer Angela Lee recalled this connection forged across the ocean: “Our connection with Peter goes back to 2018. This is a cross-ocean Tzu Chi connection. At the time, Peter’s wife had just passed away on the same day she gave birth to their third child. Because he has an aunt who is a Tzu Chi volunteer in Wuhan, China, the news reached us in the U.S. through Taiwan, and we went to support them. From that moment, we volunteers in Rowland Heights have accompanied Peter’s family, and we are really happy. We truly feel like family, because we’re not just taking care of them, but feel real familial affection.”
Angela also mentioned that everyone has watched the youngest child, Ai Ai, grow up over the years. Ai Ai, who is now eight years old, also participated in the activity. She said, “Every time we invite Peter to our backpack distribution, he brings his kids. We’re truly grateful. Our relationship with the Chang family truly embodies Tzu Chi’s enduring, great love. We witnessed the birth of his youngest daughter. It’s hard to put into words, but we really treat care recipients as our own family, and they see us as family too. This Tzu Chi bond will continue. We are deeply grateful.”
A Resilient Family Finds Warmth Amid Hardship
Ramon Diaz, 17, is a member of a family from the Tiny Home shelter. He came with his mother and sister. He shared his feelings about participating in the activity with deep emotion: ” I came here because my family really needed support financially, and just being here, I felt really cared about. It’s been a really hard time, and I really needed these feelings.”
Watching that video really made me feel like I'm not just the only person in the world who cares for others.
Ramon participated in the card-drawing activity and wrote down his feelings on the card. He said, “I wrote down some of the notes saying it really makes me glad to see that there are many people in this world that will try and go out of their way to help others too. And especially how they supported my family by giving school supplies and everything. I’m just really glad for these people. Well, what I wrote down here is just the recap on the video that I saw and how everything that they did for the people, and basically just goes down to what situations they were able to help in, and also what stuff they also supply to help people.”
Ramon also drew a cat: “Just being here really reminded me of my love for cats and how they’re really misunderstood at times, but deep down, a lot of the cats are just really sweet, sweet and kind.” He also showed everyone his Tzu Chi peace pendant and mentioned that the volunteers gave it to him for long-term safety.
Volunteer Grace Li participated in the backpack distribution for the first time. She saw many parents bringing their children to collect new backpacks, some with freshly cut hair, all very happy. But what touched her most was meeting Ramon’s family, a Tzu Chi care recipient family. The mother brought her son and daughter: “The older sister had brain surgery, so Tzu Chi provided them with significant assistance, and they are extremely grateful. They came here again this time. I saw Ramon taking notes while watching the Tzu Chi video. When he finished, he drew a cat. I asked why, and he said it’s because cats can be mischievous but also very friendly. That cat reminded him of his gratitude for the help Tzu Chi gave their family.”
I feel this is the formation and activation of love. The new backpacks represent new hope, and the haircuts symbolize a new journey.
Grace added how moved she was, seeing the children’s innocent smiles, parents’ hopeful faces, and the volunteers’ heartfelt love: “We hope this round of haircuts and backpack distributions lets the children start their new journey with a blessing, opening a new chapter of love.”
Thoughtful Services to Meet Families’ Needs
Early on the day of the event, volunteers worked together to prepare the venue: setting up balloons, arranging the registration area, organizing backpacks and fruit snacks, and preparing a card-making activity for the children.
During the backpack distribution, each family took turns coming forward so that the children could receive their backpacks in their own hands. Volunteers also prepared “Peace and Prosperity” pendants as blessings, wishing the children safety, health, and happiness as they grow.
The event featured a dedicated haircut area, where volunteers provided free haircuts for children under a large tree, helping them greet the new school year with a neat and fresh look. For families visiting for the first time, volunteers gave them a guided tour of the Tzu Chi campus in golf carts and introduced them to Tzu Chi’s charitable footprints and cultural environment.
Huiping expressed deep gratitude to every volunteer who participated. Sharon Chu prepared backpacks filled with school supplies for the children and led the prize quiz. The three hairdressing volunteers set aside time to help these families, giving the children a fresh start for the new school year.
Vegetarian Lunch Promotes Vegetarianism
At the end of the activity, volunteers invited families to stay and enjoy a carefully prepared, heartwarming vegetarian lunch. Volunteer Charlotte Wang explained: “Today happened to be our East Rowland Heights team’s turn for meal service, which coincided with the back-to-school backpack distribution. Many care recipients brought their children here to eat vegetarian dishes. We hope to use this opportunity to promote vegetarianism, encourage everyone to eat vegetarian to save the planet, and show the children that vegetarian food can be both delicious and healthy.” She introduced the day’s menu: “Two vegetarian dishes—braised tofu, stir-fried vegetables—and an even tastier cold salad with black fungus and cucumber.”
Many families accepted the invitation and stayed for lunch. Huiping said, “We told them that keeping our bodies healthy doesn’t require sacrificing other lives to eat well. Some of the children finished everything and even said, ‘I want more,’ meaning they wanted a second helping. Seeing these children realize that vegetarian food can be enjoyable and healthy made us happy as well. We were glad to promote vegetarianism together at this event.”
The Tzu Chi USA Headquarters Back-to-School Day event concluded successfully. The backpacks were not just containers for school supplies but also symbols of love and hope. Grace said, “New backpacks represent new hope, and haircuts symbolize a new journey. We hope the children carry Tzu Chi’s blessings as they begin a new school year filled with love and strength.” With the long-lasting companionship of Tzu Chi volunteers, these children carry not only the hope of knowledge on their backs, but also the world’s most selfless care.
