Written by Lulu Yin
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
As the new school year approached, communities across San Francisco hosted back-to-school events. Children are the community’s future and hope, so each event felt like a carnival, with games, barbecues, and warm well-wishes. Tzu Chi USA San Francisco Branch has been deeply involved in the Bayview-Hunters Point community through its Happy Campus program since 2009. This year, Tzu Chi was once again invited to participate in back-to-school events, providing children with uniforms and healthy vegetarian meals, continuing its care for this community.
Caring for Alice Griffith Community Residents
On August 8, 2025, Tzu Chi joined other religious organizations at the Alice Griffith public housing community in Bayview-Hunters Point to distribute uniforms, socks, backpacks, and sports gear. At the same time, Tzu Chi volunteers served plant-based burgers and hot dogs. Many residents, tasting vegetarian cuisine for the first time, exclaimed, “I didn’t know vegetarian food could be so delicious!” The volunteers aimed to convey that barbecue doesn’t need to include meat; plant-based options are equally nourishing and tasty.
Tzu Chi’s booth serves vegetarian burgers and hot dogs, introducing tasty, nourishing barbecue alternatives. Photos/Lulu Yin
Tzu Chi volunteers also set up two Jing Si Partition Tents at the venue, creating quiet, private spaces for prayer and reflection. Open to all faiths, the tents offered a calm respite from the bustle of the back-to-school event, where families could pause to offer blessings for the community and its children, and to pray for peace and protection from disasters.
Supporting the BMAGIC Backpack Giveaway and Resource Fair
Tzu Chi USA San Francisco Branch was once again invited to deliver uniforms and blessings to children at the BMAGIC Backpack Giveaway and Resource Fair at Hunters Point Blacktop. The annual event, held on August 9 in 2025, is hosted by Bayview-Hunters Point Mobilization for Adolescent Growth in our Communities (BMAGIC), a program of the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office. As stated on their website, MAGIC Programs are “a collaborative of San Francisco neighborhood-based nonprofit organizations, community residents, faith-based organizations, city and county agencies, schools, and other stakeholders whose mission is to transform the community and youth through the MAGIC of collaboration.”
Tzu Chi has participated in BMAGIC’s back-to-school events and conducted uniform distribution since 2009. Volunteers saw that many children outgrow their uniforms quickly, yet parents cannot afford replacements. At BMAGIC’s invitation, Tzu Chi joined the K–12 student uniform distribution, allowing children to walk into school confidently on the first day.
Tzu Chi volunteers not only distributed uniforms at the Tzu Chi booth but also focused on children’s health and lifestyle habits. Tzu Chi USA San Francisco Branch volunteers visit communities weekly to distribute fresh produce, supporting children’s diet and nutrition. For the BMAGIC event, they designed a Jump Rope for Gifts challenge. Children who completed 100 jumps earned a jump rope or game cards, and for every 20 jumps, they earned Jing Si products, such as sugar-free seaweed or rice crackers. Participating in the challenge encouraged children to exercise more, which helps prevent obesity.
Volunteers prepare game cards for children who complete 100 jump-rope jumps. Photo/Lei Yuanhua
Fun Learning to Protect Our Planet
Tzu Chi’s environmental booth was one of the liveliest that day. Local high school students had designed and illustrated fun picture cards for the occasion, turning recycling knowledge into engaging games.
Children sorted picture cards depicting items such as apple cores, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, paper cartons, and plastic bags, and placed them in the correct bins per San Francisco’s color-coded system: black for trash/landfill, blue for recyclables, and green for compost (food scraps and yard waste).
Many parents joined the game after watching their children. Some weren’t sure which bin to use at first, but with volunteers’ and high schoolers’ patient explanations, they completed the task, smiling by the end. Children happily received healthy snacks as rewards and beamed with accomplishment.
“We want children to develop sorting habits from a young age because this isn’t just about throwing away trash: it’s about protecting our planet,” a high school student involved in the design of the activity explained. This fun and educational approach quietly instilled environmental awareness, making San Francisco’s “three magic bins” a part of residents’ daily lives.
The DA.AI Technology booth also opened residents’ eyes, revealing how plastic PET bottles aren’t just trash anymore. Inspired by Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s teaching to “coexist with the Earth,” DA.AI Technology collects, cleans, and shreds PET bottles, then melts and extrudes the plastic into pellets, spins the material into fibers, and weaves it into Tzu Chi’s signature eco-blankets and other eco-friendly products.
The light, soft Tzu Chi eco-blankets on display truly surprised many. “Who knew discarded bottles could become something so cozy!” one booth visitor exclaimed. Displays and hands-on activities showcased the power of environmental technology, inspiring a deeper appreciation for resource conservation and care for Mother Earth.
Communal Compassion and Community Integration
Many other groups also participated in the BMAGIC Backpack Giveaway and Resource Fair, including African American and Asian American community organizations, the San Francisco Public Library, and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. They provided backpacks, extracurricular reading materials, bicycles, and other supplies. Together, Tzu Chi and the other participating organizations shared a commitment to children’s overall well-being.
We don't just distribute supplies; we aim to encourage children's physical health, boost their self-esteem, and bring the community together.
The next generation is the hope of the community. Many children who received Tzu Chi’s help growing up choose to return as volunteers after college, becoming role models and continuing the cycle of love and compassion.
Amidst the laughter at this back-to-school event, Tzu Chi USA San Francisco Branch volunteers witnessed not just the delivery of supplies, but a heart-to-heart connection. This love will continue to take root in the community, ensuring every child can study with peace of mind and pursue a bright future.
