Written by Ping Liao and Pingyao Lee
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
On August 3, 2025, the Tzu Chi USA Northwest Region hosted its Family Day, an event held each winter and summer. The gathering offered volunteers, usually immersed in their respective Tzu Chi missions, a chance to take a break and enjoy time with their families and friends. From veterans to Gen Z, volunteers of all ages came together to catch up and make new acquaintances, strengthening bonds. They also enjoyed diverse activities, including visiting booths and participating in raffles, games, and birthday celebrations.
Food and Games Galore With Laughter All Around
The Family Day event on August 3 was filled with warmth and joy as volunteers, family, and friends enjoyed one another’s company and deepened friendships, bringing hearts closer through relaxed, casual interactions outside regular volunteer work. Everyone set aside their tasks and caught up with old friends and Dharma relatives, sharing life’s little moments and enjoying a beautiful, unforgettable time together.
To ensure all guest volunteers enjoyed themselves, the organizers and stall owners collaborated to plan diverse food options and activities. The event’s food stalls featured a sumptuous spread – noodles, assorted skewers, hometown-style stinky tofu, traditional stir-fried rice noodles, authentic glutinous rice, freshly made spring rolls, herbal jelly, Taiwanese shaved ice, assorted fruit platters, and desserts. The event also included birthday celebrations for those born that month and a raffle. Two dynamic hosts engaged all guests and filled the venue with laughter.
Indoor and outdoor games were designed for families with children of all ages. Indoor games included all-time favorites for children and adults alike, such as a basketball arcade, a pinball table, and a claw machine, plus a new addition, the Mario Barrel game. Outdoor games featured the debut of colorful chalk doodling, bubble blowing, and beanbag tossing, along with balloon sculpting, a perennial favorite among children. All the games aimed to offer children a variety of experiences.
Balloon Sculpting Delights Children
Volunteer Jason Sheu, who was responsible for creating balloon sculptures, said that as he sat in a corner of the event holding strings of colorful balloons, he never expected to attract a group of little ones. These preschoolers – some timidly watching from the side, others eagerly crowding around – approached him with looks of anticipation and excitement. They gathered and pointed at the balloons, saying, “I want a doggie!” “I want a little flower!” One child sweetly asked, “Can you make me a dinosaur?”
“That moment softened my heart,” said Sheu. “As I shaped the balloons, I watched the children’s faces light up with smiles as each balloon sculpture was done. Instead of fighting over them, they always waited patiently, even passing messages to each other. That pure, natural harmony reminded me of the warmth – the power of mutual love – I experienced when I first encountered Tzu Chi. Perhaps these were just simple balloon animals, yet they felt like invisible heartstrings tying us together. I wasn’t just twisting balloons. At that moment, I was sharing the flow of love and kindness with these future little Bodhisattvas.”
To ensure all volunteers could fully enjoy a joyful, worry-free event, organizers kept the number of on-duty volunteers to a minimum. Many were so busy they didn’t have time to drink water, use the restroom, or eat. Even so, they upheld their unwavering dedication and mission-driven spirit, feeling fulfilled as they saw people greeting one another, enjoying delicious food, and having a great time.
The dynamic duo of hosts, Emily Liu and Arthur Chih, did a fantastic job creating a lively atmosphere from beginning to end. They even swallowed their pride to sing and dance, and they went to every table to chat, introducing everyone to make the atmosphere livelier and help guests get to know one another better. The event welcomed guest volunteers from across the region – Sacramento, Modesto, San Francisco, and Oakland. They were more than happy to drive three hours just to meet friends they hadn’t seen in ages and catch up.
The Mama Liu Food Truck Brings Gourmet Fare and Heartfelt Care
This year’s Family Day featured an enticing aroma. The Mama Liu Food Truck, run by the Fan family, made its debut at a Tzu Chi event and joined the charity food sale, forging a new bond with Tzu Chi.
This event is special because we'll donate part of the proceeds to Tzu Chi. I'm more than happy to do so, as I've always held Tzu Chi in high esteem.
Sky Fan said his connection with Tzu Chi began through an invitation from volunteer Chilung Yu. “She’s a longtime customer of mine and has been actively involved with Tzu Chi for years. Seeing all the volunteering work she does for Tzu Chi, I believe this is a worthy organization to support.” Fan contributed a portion of the day’s sales to Tzu Chi, saying it wasn’t a donation but an expression of “willingness.” “I’m willing to do it, that’s it. If there are events in the future, I’ll still donate a portion of my earnings to Tzu Chi,” he explained.
The stinky tofu – among other Taiwanese street foods the truck served – was a huge hit at Family Day, filling the air with its aroma and drawing a large crowd. The hosts repeatedly urged guests to purchase one portion per family and asked those who had already bought food to share with event volunteers who were too busy to wait in line.
Passing the Spirit Forward Through Generations
Many attended the event with their entire families. One touching example was that of Tzu Chi volunteers Steve Hsu and his wife, Pio Chen, who, with their relatives, represented three generations.
“We currently spend most of our time in Taiwan, but when I saw the group share about Family Day this summer, I decided to bring my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson back to Tzu Chi for a visit. It truly made me happy,” Hsu said. He also expressed his joy at returning to the service center after so long, grateful for the chance to reunite with fellow volunteers and allow younger generations to experience Tzu Chi’s warmth.
“Tzu Chi is a sanctuary for my soul. Every visit fills me with joy,” Chen added. She especially brought her family to participate, hoping to plant seeds of kindness deep within younger generations. “I hope they will participate in Tzu Chi’s work someday, carrying this spirit forward. Young people are busy with work and rarely have chances to visit Tzu Chi. This event brought them here, and I hope this experience becomes a starting point for the future,” she said.
Nurturing Kindness in Children
Beyond the three-generation families, many volunteers brought their children to instill kindness from a young age.
“I’ve participated in Tzu Chi’s pantry distribution, donut delivery, and store visits. This time, I brought my daughter to join the Family Day event,” said Nikki Huang, a newly joined trainee volunteer.
She noted that her daughter once joined her for breakfast distribution and enjoyed helping others. “She gets so happy and excited every time she helps people. I hope her compassionate heart can be cultivated while she’s young.”
Her daughter had a wonderful time at the event. “She really loves it here, there’s a play area for kids, and the atmosphere is great,” said Huang.
Participating in this event alongside my daughter has filled my heart with warmth and strengthened my resolve to continue serving in Tzu Chi's volunteer work.
Tzu Chi Collegiate Association Alumni Pass on the Legacy
Many Tzu Chi Collegiate Association (Tzu Ching) alumni brought their children to Family Day. Once college students themselves, they now have children of their own and were delighted to let them experience the Tzu Chi spirit. Some parents expressed an intention to enroll their children in a Tzu Chi Academy when they are old enough, hoping to pass Tzu Chi’s philosophy down through generations.
Katie Lin and Eugene Chen, advisors to the UC Berkeley Tzu Chi Collegiate Association, brought their 16-month-old son, Alex Chen, to the event. “Attending events like this allows us to reconnect with Tzu Ching alumni we haven’t seen in a while, people we used to volunteer with. It’s a wonderful opportunity, so we brought our baby along. Meeting other toddlers his own age kept him well-behaved. My baby behaved very nicely and had a good time. We’ll definitely come back next time,” Chen shared.
Usually, it's not convenient to bring children to activities, and that’s why many Tzu Ching alumni with kids don't come out for such gatherings. This event allows the whole family to come out, hence allowing many Tzu Chi alumni to meet up. It was truly wonderful!
Tzu Chi Youth Group Members Serve Cooling Treats
At the shaved ice and dessert area, the Tzu Chi Youth Group volunteers stood out. Jonathan Lee was among the volunteers serving at the shaved ice stall. “Basically, what I’m doing is grinding ice. It’s quite interesting because I get to see all these children walk out, and they’re really interested in what I’m doing. I get to serve them this thing that they want, shaved ice. That’s quite meaningful,” he said, appreciating the opportunity to help and give people – especially kids – a sense of happiness.
I definitely would do this again if I had the opportunity to.
Tzu Chi Collegiate Association alumni and Tzu Chi Youth Group volunteers team up to serve refreshing summer treats. Photo/C.M. Yung
Deep and Family-like Bonds
Every detail of Family Day, from the stalls and games to the meals, reflected the volunteers’ heartfelt dedication. All guests, including volunteers, community members, family and friends, and first-time participants, felt the warmth of Tzu Chi’s family-like embrace throughout the day.
The Tzu Chi USA Northwest Region extends its heartfelt gratitude to every participant and to the dedicated event volunteers working behind the scenes. It is through these sincere interactions and selfless contributions that Family Day, filled with laughter and heartfelt moments, was made possible and beautiful memories were created.
