Written by Vivian Chang
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
On the morning of September 27, 2025, as a cool breeze blew, Tzu Chi USA Northwest Region volunteers arrived at Costaño School of the Arts (Costaño Elementary School) in East Palo Alto, California. Working in teams of two or three, they carried bags of sorted clothing and shoes. Some set out supplies on tables, while others checked size labels on bags to ensure everything was organized for easy pickup by parents and students. They also lined up rows of prepared gift bags that glowed brightly in the morning light.
For many families, the start of school marks an anticipated new beginning yet also brings tangible pressures. Children grow quickly, requiring frequent clothing and shoe replacements. At the same time, rising prices increase living costs, making preparation for the new school year a burden for many parents. Empathizing with such needs, Tzu Chi volunteers began to prepare over a month in advance, aiming to ensure that every child could start the school year with clean, well-fitting new clothes and shoes. Radiant with anticipation and joy, the volunteers quietly awaited the children who would soon arrive to receive their new attire, which would empower them to start the new school year with delight and confidence.
Meticulous Preparation
Over the course of a month, 20 Tzu Chi volunteers had dedicated their efforts to compiling and organizing lists, as well as meticulously recording each student’s height, shoe size, and color preferences, all to ensure the supplies truly met their needs. The distribution on September 27 then served 94 children from 48 families. The volunteers prepared two tops and one pair of shoes for each child. To find the most suitable styles, they made multiple trips to different stores, repeatedly comparing sizes and designs to ensure the children received items that were not only practical but also a pleasure to wear.
Notably, the beneficiaries this time included not only Tzu Chi’s existing charity care families in the East Palo Alto area but also additional financially struggling families that teachers had recommended. “Such an arrangement extends our care further to help more children in need,” said Tzu Chi volunteer Michelle Wong. “Through these carefully prepared supplies for the new school year, we not only ease the burden on families but also allow children to step onto campus with confidence, wearing neat and well-fitting new clothes and comfortable, properly fitting new shoes.”
It was the first time Tzu Chi volunteer Evan Yeh was participating in such an activity, and he was responsible for purchasing ten pairs of shoes. “We went to three places, Costco, Target, and Walmart,” he recounted. “After careful selection, we finally found sizes that fit well and colors and styles the children liked.” Yeh shared that the experience was novel, meaningful, and truly fulfilling, as he knew these shoes would accompany children into the new school year. “I will definitely help buy some again next time,” he concluded.
Compassion Takes Root
At this year’s bamboo bank booth, there was a symbolic addition to the bamboo bank return process, through which families periodically bring filled banks back to Tzu Chi and receive a new one. Tzu Chi volunteer Austin Tsao brought 50 five-cent coins to the back-to-school distribution, and when students came to receive their family’s new bamboo bank, he gave each child one coin to deposit in it. This symbolic act helped to kick-start the habit of regular giving, and also planted a seed of compassion in their hearts.
Letting children personally deposit their five-cent coins into bamboo banks helps them experience the heartfelt mindset behind each act of compassion.
Tzu Chi volunteers actively encouraged parents and children to embrace the bamboo bank spirit, emphasizing that even the smallest acts of kindness can radiate in daily life and bring hope to the world. Thirty families received bamboo banks during the distribution event, and took them home to begin this relay of compassion.
In some families, the bamboo spirit had already taken root. Among them, Ana Bel Huerta, once a Tzu Chi care recipient, has donated $100 at every distribution over the past few years to give back. She said she chooses to help those in greater need and feels no pressure, saying, “I am truly happy to be able to do this.”
New Shoes Can Make Such a Difference
During the event, volunteers warmly welcomed parents and children, giving them brand-new clothing items and helping the children try on their new shoes to ensure they fit. If some turned out to be too big or small, the volunteers kept them in order to later exchange them for the proper size, ensuring every child would get comfortable, well-fitting shoes to start the new school year.
Receiving her shoes, Yuliana Bac Huerta, a fifth-grader at Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy, said, “I really love them. The colors are beautiful, they’re comfortable to wear, and they fit perfectly. I sincerely thank you for your support.”
Volunteers help children try on new shoes to ensure they fit properly. Photos/Steven Chiu
Handmade Toys Delight Students
In addition to the thoughtfully prepared new clothes and shoes, the volunteers arranged to offer even more surprises and warmth to the children during the back-to-school distribution. They wanted more than just to dress the students well; they wanted to touch their hearts and help them feel truly cared for.
Sharon Li is among the volunteers most dedicated to this goal. To capture the moments when children’s eyes sparkle and smiles bloom, she has quietly devoted herself to this care mission for three consecutive years, spending months meticulously creating hundreds of crochet animal toys. These hand-made toys are not only adorable but also filled with her heartfelt wishes and blessings. She strives for perfection while weaving her affection for the children into every stitch.
Li fashioned a new design this year: a large turtle with a smaller turtle hidden inside, symbolizing the power of guarding and companionship. She hopes that when children hold these handmade toys, they not only experience the joy of childhood but also feel the comfort of being cherished and protected.
The Story Corner Introduces Buddhist Wisdom
A highlight of this year’s distribution was the Story Corner, conceived by Tzu Chi volunteer Minette Chan. “We added a story time this year because we’re not just distributing material goods. We also want to share some of the teachings of Master Cheng Yen. And there are so many stories available that are quite unique to Tzu Chi that we can share with them. They’re learning about compassion; they’re learning about kindness,” said Chan.
She prepared several picture books featuring stories told by Master Cheng Yen that introduce core Buddhist principles. Leaning against a large tree, she read them to the children who had already received their gifts. They listened intently, their expressions changing with the story’s plot, sometimes pensive, sometimes smiling. Chan also interwove questions throughout the storytelling, guiding the children to reflect on kindness and its effects, as well as the importance of compassion.
“I think a story time station is where they can rest and also learn more about Tzu Chi in a very casual environment,” Cham explained. “For children, stories are actually very powerful. That’s where they can learn about teachings without being very dogmatic about it. There are so many stories about caring for animals, caring for other human beings, about respect and love that they can learn through stories.”
Tzu Chi volunteer Minette Chan read stories to children during the back-to-school distribution. Photos/Steven Chiu
Antonio Fidueria, a fifth-grader at Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy, listened to three stories. According to his mother, Heidi Martinez, Antonio has loved stories since he was little. “But he falls asleep when he reads storybooks himself, so he really enjoyed hearing them here.”
When asked to summarize one of the stories Chan read, Ivan Hernandez, a sixth-grader at Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School, said, “The story was about three kids that were playing with a bird that had a string with a rock attached to it. Then a man came and said to the kids that it’s not fun to play with the bird like that. And then he set the bird free, and he taught the kids a lesson about being respectful and not bullying other people and birds.”
I learned that you have to be kind to people and respect them, and be kind to animals too.
Material Relief and Steadfast Care
The back-to-school distribution on September 27 did more than provide material supplies; it also symbolized Tzu Chi volunteers’ long-standing commitment to caring for the East Palo Alto community in California. The volunteers extended a helping hand when it mattered most, alleviating parents’ financial burdens so children could start the new school year with greater ease and confidence. At the same time, the volunteers helped spread compassion throughout the community, fostering mutual trust and care through collaboration, giving, and companionship. The distribution brought hope to the families receiving assistance and infused the entire neighborhood with warmth and vitality.
