Written by Hsiulien Chu
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Yingying Lee and Adriana DiBenedetto
For over a decade, volunteers from Tzu Chi USA’s Southern Region have partnered with Landis Elementary School in Houston, Texas, providing school supplies to families in need. On May 6, National Teacher’s Day in the United States and part of Teacher Appreciation Week, volunteers brought thoughtfully prepared vegetarian dishes to share a lunchtime gathering with the school’s teachers and staff. In return, the entire school — teachers, staff, and students — expressed their gratitude through heartfelt contributions, using Tzu Chi’s signature bamboo banks to pool their kindness and help more people in need.
Through the event, volunteers shared Tzu Chi’s humanistic values and the spirit of the bamboo bank era, conveying the message that everyone has the power to extend a helping hand.
Expressing Gratitude and Affirming the Value of Charitable Education
Brenda Baldesi, Student Support Manager at Landis Elementary School, who liaised with the volunteers, expressed deep gratitude for the volunteers’ dedication, saying, “It’s my understanding that you guys have been coming for over 11 years. So I really appreciate that, and the kids do, too. At the beginning of the year, you guys bring them school supplies: backpacks, pencils, coloring supplies. Everything that they need: pencil boxes, uniforms, and shoes, too. Everything they need for their success, you have been able to provide for us. At least 100 students are being equipped for success, and that’s something that we highly appreciate, that we can just provide the kids any type of resource they need in order for them to focus in school. And that’s why we are here.”
Baldesi also deeply appreciated the spirit of the bamboo bank, which encourages people to remember to practice kindness every day. “It’s a teaching moment for the students to learn, like the same way they have been receiving help, receiving jackets, receiving school supplies, uniforms,” said Baldesi. “That same way, we also have the privilege and the honor to give back as little as a penny or as much as you want. And then, it’s just like the cycle of compassion, like they receive compassion, and then they give compassion back.”
Ana C. Lopez, who has served as the school’s librarian for 31 years, was delighted by the arrival of the Tzu Chi volunteers. “We are so grateful for all the good work that you are doing all over the world, in whatever countries you go to. It’s very gracious; we should be doing that, you know, everywhere. So I’m thankful for all that you do. And thank you so much for the wonderful meal as well. I enjoyed your tea. You bring a lot of love. All of you bring a lot of love. You’re so wonderful, everything that you do, thank you!”
All the beautiful messages [on the red blessings envelope]... Happiness is not about how much we possess, but how little we begrudge. And the meaning of the seals, you know, discipline, meditation, and wisdom. It’s beautiful, thank you!
Instilling Kindness
Fabiola Simoneaux, a first-grade teacher at Landis Elementary School, actively encourages her students to practice kindness every day. She teaches them that doing good and helping others can create a better, more compassionate world.
“I encourage all the students and myself to put change in the bamboo bank because I like to help people,” said Simoneaux. “I told all my students that this is very important because they have to help people who don’t have whatever they have at the moment. Every day, my students tell me, ‘Miss, I brought this,’ And I say, ‘Okay, put it in the can, because we have to fill the can until it’s heavy. Let’s applaud everybody.’”
The appreciation lunch took place in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere, with teachers enjoying the vegetarian dishes prepared by the volunteers. The aim was simple: to inspire more people to incorporate plant-based alternatives as a way to show their love of the Earth and protect all living beings.
“Today, we prepared vegetables, fruits, and cakes to share with the teachers, so they could learn about different vegetarian foods,” said Tzu Chi volunteer Jennifer Liang. “One teacher said the stir-fried noodles were so delicious that she wanted to try making them at home.”
Teachers and staff embrace Tzu Chi’s bamboo bank spirit and put small change from their bamboo banks into Tzu Chi’s donation box. Photo/Luca Yeh
Deputy Executive Director of Tzu Chi USA’s Southern Region, Julienne Lin, additionally introduced an improved version of the bamboo bank, the “Sea of Merit,” which emits a pleasant chime when coins are dropped in. Everyone was delighted by both the new additions.
“We’ve been coming to this school for so many years, and now many teachers and staff are genuinely excited to bring their bamboo banks and pour them into the ‘Sea of Merit,’ said Lin. “Hearing that chime, they were just as excited as we were. We’re truly grateful for the love and kindness they’ve contributed to this shared ocean of goodness.”
A Steady Thread of Love
“[Tzu Chi] started out at the very beginning of the school year, and we were so appreciative that the school supply drive brought several boxes full of very necessary school supplies for our students,” recalled Landis Elementary School Principal Jennifer Silva, who first formed a connection with Tzu Chi during her time at Smith Elementary. “As soon as the first day of school started, the teachers started giving us their lists of kids that didn’t have what they needed to start their year off. We were able to dig into the collection that you shared with us, and we got those into the students’ hands, and they put them to great use right away. We really appreciated it.”
Today, you’re here celebrating our teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week. We vastly appreciate your support of all of us, whether it’s students, campus, or community. And we enjoyed lunch today; it was fantastic! And we really appreciate the continued partnership.
Even as many things have changed over the years, Landis Elementary School’s deep trust and heartfelt enthusiasm have remained constant. The connection between the school and Tzu Chi is more than just a partnership. It is a warm and enduring bridge that unites hearts, with each visit a reunion between old friends. That sincerity and warmth has taken root in many hearts, blossoming into a light of love and hope to be carried onward and across communities.
