Great Love by the Pond
Modesto Fundraising Event
By Chen Tzu Miao
(Translated by Una Fan and Lillian Pang, Northern California)
Mr. Chu of Modesto,
northern California, is well known for his love of lotus flowers.
His collection includes over five hundred different species.
His pond reaches the peak of its beauty when the lotuses blossom
in the summer. On July 1, Mr. Chu generously permitted the Tzu
Chi Modesto office to use that area for a special fundraising
bazaar. Proceeds were donated for the Northern California Tzu
Chi fund for the poor, for the construction of Great Love houses
for earthquake survivors in El Salvador, and for Project Hope,
the reconstruction of schools damaged in the 1999 earthquake
in Taiwan.
The day before the event, six volunteers from
the Northern California Chapter rushed to Modesto to set. Despite
the blazing sun and sweltering heat, the volunteers' minds were
refreshed by the beauty of the sea of lotus blossoms as they
set up the booths and canopies for the bazaar. When nightfall
came, five people stayed behind and camped out in the garden,
ready for the next day's tasks.
On the day of the bazaar, Tzu Chi people enthusiastically
came from the Silicon Valley, San Francisco, San Jose, Fresno,
Stockton, Sacramento, and as far away as Reno, Nevada, bringing
items to sell for charity and ready to help run the bazaar.
The festival had a variety of interesting
and entertaining booths. The game booths were favorites with
the children, while the adults could taste delicious Taiwanese
foods and snacks. With all the playing and eating, no one overlooked
the spiritual aspect of the day. Many visitors went to the Tzu
Chi book stall and bought volumes of "spiritual food."
At Brother Huang Chi-che's suggestion, a number of American
visitors bought the English edition of Still Thoughts, which
thrilled Brother Huang no end.
The most popular booth of the day sold watermelon.
Though each slice cost one dollar, they sold out very quickly.
Volunteers and visitors chomped watermelon, relaxed under willow
trees, and enjoyed the beauty that surrounded them. Steamed
rice cakes, a Taiwanese snack, were also popular, and volunteers
working at that booth even showed visitors how to make them.
Besides food, games and shopping, there were tables for Chinese
chiropractic and for a Tzu Chi bone marrow donor drive. Volunteers
had their hands full with the crowds of people that wanted help.
After the festivities were finished and the
public had left, volunteers busily worked to clean up the area.
On his way home, one of the helpers realized that his custom
Chinese writing brush was missing and concluded that it had
been accidentally thrown away. He needed that brush for making
signs and posters for Tzu Chi events. He and a few other volunteers
had to drive back to Modesto and search through bags and bags
of garbage until his prize brush was finally found.
As the sun was setting on this successful
day and the volunteers were getting ready to leave, Sister Man-yun
was worried that the helpers who had worked so hard would get
hungry on their trip home, and so she thoughtfully packed them
some food. Everyone was grateful, especially when they opened
the pack and discovered homemade pastries such as pineapple
cakes and curry turnovers. The snacks were delicious and everyone
felt the warmth and love from Sister Man-Yun.
Even though it was only the Modesto
office that held the fundraiser, volunteers from many other
Tzu Chi offices went to show their support and solidarity. Because
everyone is willing to help each other, all the Tzu Chi offices
abroad can build a strong mutual friendship.
