Written by Vivian Chang
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Adriana DiBenedetto
At Costano Elementary School in East Palo Alto, California, the cool morning air on January 10, 2026, was transformed by warmth as the day’s events got underway. Here, Tzu Chi volunteers would hold their annual winter distribution, inviting families to gather together in community, and lift up joy. The activity has been held for many years, primarily serving families identified as in need through the school district, as well as those receiving long-term care and support from Tzu Chi.
Meticulous Care for Every Child
To ensure every child can stay warm and comfortable amid winter temperatures, Tzu Chi volunteers began preparations weeks in advance. They meticulously selected winter outfits, confirming sizes and needs so that each item would carry a heartfelt sense of care. Yet, the distribution reached beyond material aid. In addition to distributing supplies, Tzu Chi also strives to create a space where parents can express themselves and find emotional support at such events. On the day of the distribution, volunteers served Jing Si tea and refreshments, inviting parents to sit and be at ease. Amid the calming aroma of tea and the sharing of Jing Si Aphorisms, a warm atmosphere unfolded where parents felt truly heard and supported.
Finding Strength Through Artistry
A cozy art section was set up specifically for children at the event. Before the activity began, volunteers thoughtfully prepared various materials, including colored paper, stickers, and paintbrushes, neatly arranged on tables and thoughtfully categorized by age group. As soon as the children sat down, their eyes were drawn to the vibrant materials, and they eagerly began working, quickly filling the space with joy.
Throughout the artwork process, volunteers remained by the children’s sides, some offering gentle guidance, others assisting with materials, while others knelt to discuss compositions and ideas. When a child looked up, happily showing their work to a volunteer, their smiles brightened the whole room.
Bamboo Banks Return Home
Continuing the tradition from previous years’ distributions, a “Bamboo Banks Return Home” activity was also arranged on-site. Through this, many familiar families brought back bamboo banks filled with coins and heartfelt good wishes. They saved the small change over time at home, gathering drops of compassion to add to the greater pool. First-time participants received their own bamboo banks, too, after volunteers shared the bamboo bank origin story.
Additionally, volunteers prepared special small gifts for children to choose from. Children gathered around the table, eyes wide as they carefully compared options and thoughtfully considered their selections, filling the space with delighted laughter and anticipation.
A Life Raft in the Tempest
For survivors like Faten Riyad-Falah Al-Jarrah, this companionship has been a lifeline. For her, 2024 was a period fraught with trials: she faced the loss of her husband. Then, before she could recover from this grief, she was diagnosed with cancer. The successive blows placed immense pressure on her physically and emotionally, often overwhelmed by the demands of treatment in addition to her other daily responsibilities.
Due to disruptions to her established rhythm of life and changes in her financial and practical circumstances, she had to leave her home. Her search for a new home hit many roadblocks, and for a while, she was unable to find suitable temporary accommodation. She described her feelings during that period as standing at a crossroads, confused and helpless amid life’s uncertainty. During this time, she met Tzu Chi. Volunteers helped with her basic needs and, through acts of care and companionship, made her feel heard and embraced.
In 2025, Faten underwent further treatment at Stanford Hospital, where her condition gradually stabilized. She is now in remission. Reflecting on her journey, her tone remained calm, her eyes filled with a profound sense of gratitude. “Even after all I’ve been through, I’ve learned to be grateful, because I realized I already have so much.” According to her, the most challenging days brought loss, illness, and anxiety, yet she was prompted to reflect on life’s meaning and learned to discover strength within vulnerability.
For Faten, Tzu Chi offered not only tangible aid but also companionship during some of her most difficult moments, ensuring she never felt alone as she confronted illness and life’s upheavals, infusing her with the courage to keep moving forward, step by step, toward recovery and hope.
Brenda Moreno Ramirez, another mother at the tea gathering, spoke of the sudden shock that came with her eight-year-old son’s diagnosis of a degenerative vision problem. Doctors warned that he might face the risk of gradual vision deterioration or even blindness in the future. This news struck Brenda like a bolt of lightning, overwhelmed with anxiety. As a mother, she had to hold back her emotions while accompanying her child through a series of tests and treatments. At night, when she was alone, she had to process her fears and worries about the future in quiet moments.
To accompany her child through intensive treatments and regular check-ups, Brenda had to drastically reduce her work hours, which posed greater financial strain on her already tight financial circumstances. Medical expenses, daily living costs, and the gravity of the situation left her physically and mentally fatigued. She shared that the housing subsidy she received earlier this year was more than just financial aid; it felt like a life raft during a tempest. It allowed her to settle her life temporarily and to focus on accompanying her child through this critical treatment period without distractions from practical pressures.
This was the first time that Brenda participated in a Tzu Chi event. At the tea gathering, she found the courage to voice this deeply held experience for the first time. For her, being heard and understood was profoundly significant.
Someone knows what I’m going through; I’m not facing this alone.
Blanca Gonzalez, a long-term Tzu Chi care recipient, has also built deep trust and friendship with volunteers. She recounted how, after an abnormal marker appeared on her mammogram, she was asked to return for further tests. However, language barriers during the process made her feel particularly anxious. Without someone who could communicate with her in Spanish, she initially felt isolated and helpless throughout the medical process.
She was later referred to another medical facility with more comprehensive translation services for further examination and imaging tests. While awaiting a second opinion, she endured immense psychological pressure. Facing the fear of a potential cancer diagnosis, heightened by language barriers, she had been overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. She could only pray fervently as she waited. Fortunately, the final results were benign, bringing her immense relief.
Reflecting on this journey, Blanca noted that while the test results were reassuring, the emotional turmoil of waiting and uncertainty made her deeply appreciate the importance of “having someone by your side.” The long-standing care and support from Tzu Chi volunteers became an anchor during this time. Participating in this winter distribution event, she felt a familiar and comforting strength once again.
Luisa Lopez repeatedly expressed her appreciation during the tea gathering. Among open and welcoming faces, she recalled a most difficult period when her husband’s health suddenly worsened, requiring emergency admission to the intensive care unit. As her panic reached its peak, Tzu Chi volunteers reached out to her by phone. In addition to offering care and comfort, volunteers told her that everyone would pray for her and her family. That phone call remains etched in her memory to this day, she shared.
She said she deeply felt at the time that having someone genuinely care for and remember you during life’s most vulnerable moments is profoundly precious. That sense of being cared for gave her immense strength and reshaped her understanding of the meaning of “helping.”
This experience influenced her family as well: Louisa shared that now her children also diligently save spare change in their bamboo bank to share with those in need. For her, this isn’t merely about a financial contribution; it’s about compassion, learned through being cared for, and slowly taking root in the next generation.
After the tea gathering, a volunteer received a text from Louisa. She mentioned that when she saw the family gift included an electric kettle, she was deeply moved. It turned out she had been saving money, hoping to buy an electric kettle one day. She never imagined this wish would be fulfilled through this activity. At the end of the message, she once again expressed her heartfelt gratitude.
A Legacy of Joy
This year’s most delightful surprise was the performance by Stanford University’s Lion Dance Club. There, many families in attendance experienced the lion dance up close for the first time. As the gongs and drums sounded, the lion danced nimbly to the rhythm, blinking and shaking its head. Its vivid expressions instantly captivated the children, instantly energizing the atmosphere. The children watched the lion’s every move intently, while the parents beamed with delight, applauding and cheering.
After the performance, the members of Stanford University’s Lion Dance Club stayed to interact with the children, explaining how the lion is controlled. They demonstrated how to lift the lion’s head and coordinate movements to bring the lion to life. Under their guidance, the children took turns trying to operate the lion. Their small hands straining to lift its large head, their faces filled with focused excitement. When the lion swayed gently with the children’s movements, the venue immediately erupted with encouraging applause and laughter.
Many children happily posed for photos with the lion, some gently stroking its head, while others stood beside it flashing bright smiles, creating a truly warm and vivid memory for this year’s event.
The winter distribution aims not only to provide material support, but also to accompany and strengthen local communities. The tea gathering gave parents the opportunity to share their stories, listen, and gradually understand their neighbors through meaningful conversation. Through these sharings and the acknowledgment that they are not alone, compassion and care can continue to flow.
