爱心中餐：华裔青年在行动
“爱心中餐”是由美国华人联合会（UCA）组织的一次全国性活动，也是包括美国中餐馆联盟在内的华裔组织的联合。目标是协调全国各地的华人，为在新冠（COVID-19）流行期间有需要的人提供餐食。
辛辛那提APAPA青年分会得知这一消息后，我们立即开始筹款购买食物。在48小时内，我们筹集了将近3000美元，能够购买600顿热餐。一旦有了资金，我们便开始联系有需要的地方，例如无家可归者收容所，养老院和有贫困儿童的学校。我们最终决定捐赠给三个地方，New Housing Ohio那里有无家可归的庇护所，Joshua’s Place有贫困儿童，Floral Garden Senior Home有需要帮助的老人。
青年分会成员感到非常兴奋，因为他们意识到自己在为社区做有意义的事情。他们运送食物的那一天（5月10日），天气寒冷多雨，但是年轻人很兴奋，很早就去了那里，确保所有食物都准备好并且可以安全地装满。当他们到达那里时，收容所人们已经在停车场等着。由于COVID-19，我们都戴着口罩和手套，我们并要保持社交距离，不能握手。但是我们看到他们眼中的笑容和火花，听到一遍一遍的感谢，我们为自己作为华裔美国人而感到自豪。
当我们去Joshua's Place时，年轻人用自己的钱，买了学习用品并制作了200多个袋子，精心制作了带有暖心的卡片，放在袋子里，在我们送食物时交给了那些家庭。APAPA年轻人做得真是感人和周到。
上一次大流行病是100年前，今年不幸又发生了。但是，我们通过回馈我们的社区，使这一不幸的事件成为有纪念性 的记忆。我们的APAPA年轻人传递了一个很好的信息－虽然我们不能在一起， 但是，有我们， 你不孤独！
下面是辛辛那提APAPA青年分会和克利夫兰APAPA青年团的青年们参加活动的心得：
Andy Gao
As a Cincinnati APAPA member, I enjoy bringing care and happiness to the community through programs like Food of Love.
Claire Meng
The Food of Love event not only made me realize how many people need help in a time like this, but how simple it is to give help. It was really inspiring to see how a group of people could gather together enough donations for over 600 boxes of lunch so quickly. This event is the type of things we need in a time of crisis, and I’m so glad I was a part of it.
爱心中餐活动不仅让我意识到疫情期间有这么多人需要帮助，也让我意识到只要努力就可以帮助到别人。一个团队的华人在如此短时间内就募集到足够的资金买了600盒午餐，这非常鼓舞人心。危机当前，我们特别需要这样的爱心活动，我很高兴能够参加到这次爱心活动当中。
Craig Qi
I thought the Food of Love Day was a great demonstration of what it means to be American. It is only through our efforts to help others, especially during this time of crisis, can we Chinese Americans change how society perceives us. Sunday was also the first time I wore a mask and breathing with it on was a new experience. My experience on Sunday made me even more appreciative of our nurses and physicians fighting on the frontlines because they must experience the same discomfort for multiple shifts.
我觉得华人爱心中餐活动很好地展示了作为美国人意味着什么。在当前特殊的疫情形势下，通过我们的行动去帮助别人，会有效地改变我们在社会其他人心中的形象。周日的活动也是我第一次戴上口罩外出参加活动，戴着口罩呼吸对我是个全新的体验。这种体验让我更加感激战斗在前线的医生和护士，因为他们要在上班时间一直忍受这种不舒服，有时还要加班加点。
Avril and Audrey Kong
我们喜欢美食。在这个困难的时候，我们希望那些需要帮助的人能有足够的食物渡过这段时期。所以我们捐款给Food of Love，希望中餐美食可以给他们带去一些温暖和希望。在疫情中，我们一起共度难关。
We love food. In this difficult time, we want those who are in need to have enough food to help them go through this unpresented challenging period. Therefore, we donate to Food of Love program, and hope they enjoy delicious Chinese food, and feel supported. Together, we will get throughthe pandemic!
Irene Zhang
During the "Food of Love" event I drew those little cards, I wish it shows families that they are not alone, and we can get through the hard times together. Hopefully the cartoon character brought back some fun memory, I think it symbolized happiness, and I hope what we (APAPA) are doing bring warmth and hope to their family.
在爱心中餐日的活动中，我画了那些小卡片，我希望它向大家表明他们并不孤单，我们可以一起度过艰难时期。我希望卡通人物能带回一些有趣的回忆，我认为它象征着幸福，也希望我们 (APAPA) 所做的一切能够给他们的家人带来温暖和希望。
Jessica Li
在这个空前的危难时期，我们应该更加的团结。我们想让每个人都能感受到，他们不是孤单的，他们都是被关爱的。当我们联合起来的时候，我们就更有力量！
In this critical and unprecedented time, we should be more united than ever. We want everyone to feel that they are loved and not alone. We are stronger when we’re together!
Julia Zhu
I am an eighth-grader at Mason Middle School. I enjoyed the Food of Love Day event, it was a kind and helpful thing to do for the underprivileged families during COVID-19. I liked how doing one simple thing, such as giving out food to families, could just put a smile on their faces.
我是Julia。我在Mason读八年级。我非常喜欢Food ofLove Day活动。在COVID-19时期能帮助贫困的家庭是一件很有意义的事情。送食品给需要的家庭虽然简单，但是我看到他们脸上的笑容我很开心。
Katie Wang
May 10th is a significant date in Chinese Americans history. It marks the completion 151 years ago of the Transcontinental Railroad, which early Chinese immigrants helped construct. May is also designated as Asian Pacific American Islander Heritage Month. With the COVID-19 crisis creating so much food insecurity for Americans of all ethnicities, it is a great time to come together and share with our neighbors. United Chinese Americans (UCA) has launched Food of Love event nationwide, many Chinese organizations in 50 states have joined the effort. I feel so honored to be a part of it. Cincinnati APAPA Youth members started fundraising right away, within 48 hours we raised almost $3000, and later purchased 600 hot meals and delivered to homeless shelters, underprivileged families, and senior homes. This is a great way to show the care and love from Asian Americans to our neighbors during this pandemic. Even though I have been volunteering for years, this event inspired me the true meaning of giving back to our society, and it made me proud as a young Asian American. I have determined to continue volunteering, contributing to society and making difference to the world.
5月10日是华裔美国人历史上的重要日子。它标志着151年前的横贯大陆的铁路建成，早期的中国移民帮助修建了该铁路。五月也被指定为亚太太平洋岛民遗产月。由于COVID危机给每个人造成了极大不安全，是时候与我们的邻居相互帮忙。美国华人联合会在全国范围内发起了“爱心中餐”活动，来自50个州的许多华人组织也参与其中。我很荣幸成为其中一员。辛辛那提APAPA青年会员听到消息立即开始筹款，在48小时内，我们筹集了近3000美元，后来购买了600顿热饭，并运送到了无家可归者收容所，贫困家庭和养老院。这是在大流行病期间向我们的邻居表达亚裔美国人的关怀和关爱的好方法。尽管我已经志愿服务多年，但这次活动感受了回馈社会的真正意义，这让我作为一个年轻的亚裔美国人感到自豪。我决心永不停止志愿服务，为社会做出贡献，让世界变得更美好。
Kellan Ren
During these times of crisis, everyone must come together, and do what they can to help those in need. The month of May is Asian Pacific American Heritage month, and APAPA and Hua Xia Chinese School saw this as an opportunity to give back tothose who need support. During the Food of Love, we collected around $3,000 in one week, which provided 600 boxes of lunch and 200 bags of school supplies to families who need every extra bit of support as they can get. Thanks to our volunteers, we were able to distribute the goods to families all around Cincinnati.
Kevin Ren
Although Covid-19 has drastically changed our world and environment that we live in, it is great to see how we help and impact society. During the celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage in the month of May, it is heart warming to see how involved the Asian community is to help battle the coronavirus. Together, during the Food of Love event, we collected $3,000 in one week which allowed us to donate 600 lunch boxes and 200 bags of school supplies to families in need. Thank you for your involvement!
Sophia Zou
1869年5月10日，这一天就是后来成为美国历史上的一个巨大的里程碑。经过6年的艰苦努力，两万名中国劳工帮助修建的横贯美国大陆的铁路终于完工。这条铁路对当时居住在西海岸的每个人都产生了巨大影响。它不仅使运输时间大大缩短，而且对美国产生了巨大的影响，直到今天仍然可以感受到它的影响。为了纪念中国劳工的辛勤劳动，“亚太纪念月”诞生了。每年五月，它成为美国亚裔聚会庆祝这一重要时刻的一种传统。但今年由于新冠病毒的严峻形势，我们决定尽力帮助那些有困难的民众。辛辛那提亚太联盟（APAPA）与大辛辛那提地区的其他美籍华裔机构合作组织了“以食送爱心”活动，向有困难的民众捐赠食物和物资。在不到一周的时间里，我们在会员的慷慨支持下筹集了近3,000美元。有了这笔捐款，我们就可以为辛辛那提地区的有困难的民众提供帮助。具体来说，在5月10日，我们前往西切斯特的Twin Dragon Buffet餐馆，购买了300盒午餐，然后由APAPA志愿者包括学生和父母，将这些午餐送到了新俄亥俄州的庇护所，然后，把这些午餐在辛辛那提附近分发给在这个艰难时期最需要帮助的民众。在这场危机中，我们能够为辛辛那提最需要我们支持的人送上一份爱心。我们与民众同心抗疫！
151 years ago on May 10, 1869, what would later be a huge milestone in American history was completed. The Transcontinental Railroad that twenty-thousand Chinese workers helped build was at last finished after six years of hard work. This railroad had a huge impact on everyone that was living in the West Coast during that time. It not only made transportation significantly shorter, but also contributed a large impact to America that would still be felt to this day. In honor of the Chinese workers’ hard work, the Asian Pacific Heritage Month was born. Every May, it has become a tradition for people to gather to celebrate this momentous occasion. This year however, with the extenuating circumstances of COVID-19, we decided to do what we could to help out those who may be struggling. Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) Cincinnati teamed up with other Chinese-American organizations within the Greater Cincinnati area to organize the Food of Love event to donate food and supplies to people in need. In less than a week, we collected nearly $3,000 from the generous support of our members. With this contribution, we were able to meaningfully help out many people in the Cincinnati area. Specifically, on May 10th, we headed to the Twin Dragon Buffet in West Chester to pick up 300 meals, which was then transported by a few carfuls of APAPA volunteers, which included an equal mix of students and parents alike, to the New Housing Ohioshelter. These meals would then be widely distributed around Cincinnati to those that need it most in this tough time. In the midst of this crisis, we were able to offer a bit of comfort for people all over Cincinnati who needed our support the most. We’re all in this together!
Sarah, Amy and Ben Wang
Since the pandemic started, I am not able to go back to school, not able to play with my friends, but I have been enjoying delicious home made meals my mom makes every day. But my heart is heavy when I think about the families who can’t afford hot meals on the daily basis. So when I heard the food of love program, I signed up right away! And my two sisters also jumped right in. I don’t regret donating my hard earned $50 to APAPA to organize hot meal lunch boxes delivery. My sisters don’t regret spending all Sunday night to prepare gift bags full of school supplies to kids who might need them. When we see the smiles of the families who received the hot lunch boxes and the gift bags, we feel so happy that we actually are able to help people who are in need!
自从COVID-19流行病开始以来，我无法到学校上课，也无法与朋友玩耍。但我一直享受着妈妈每天做的美味的家常饭菜。但是，当我想到那些每天都无法负担热饭的家庭时，我的心会很沉重。因此，当我听到Food Of Love活动后，我马上报名了！我的两个妹妹也积极加入进去。我不后悔将辛苦挣来的50美元捐给APAPA来组织购买热饭午餐盒。我的妹妹们也不后悔花了整个星期天晚上准备装满了学习用品的礼物袋给那些可能需要它们的孩子们。当我们看到收到热饭盒和礼品袋的家庭的微笑时，我们感到非常高兴，我们很高兴能够为有需要的人提供帮助！
Xin Wang
I had an amazing time helping Food of Love to pass out food as well as celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage month. As an Asian American, it’s so nice to know how our community is working together to spread love during this time. Food of Love really is a great program and I hope that we can continue to help people.
我度过了一段美好的时光，帮助《爱的食物》散发美食，并庆祝了亚太裔美国人遗产月。作为亚裔美国人，我很高兴知道我们的社区在这段时间内如何共同努力传播爱心。 “爱的食物”确实是一个很棒的活动，我希望我们能够继续帮助人们。
Jimmy Zhou
This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to visit the Norma Herr Women’s Foundation in downtown Cleveland and help distribute food to women in need for Chinese American Food for Love Day. It was an amazing experience in which I learned a lot about the Norma Herr foundation and how they help these women. My passion for helping these women in need all started at the beginning of the semester in my theology class. We were assigned groups and topics for our major social justice project. Our topic was violence against women, and we did tons of in-depth research about the issue of violence against women and how it affects the community. At this point, I was hooked. We studied the effects globally, nationally, and locally, and we even conducted multiple interviews with people that worked in the field. We eventually ended up making a Google Site that serves as an outlet for all our findings and serves as a platform to raise awareness about violence against women. We also made an Instagram account to engage the community to learn about the problem of violence against women. However, through this whole process, I never got any physical experience, only information through online research and email exchanges. Therefore, I jumped at the chance to actually go to a shelter and get some hands-on experience, and I am so grateful that I did. During the trip, I was able to talk with many of the workers about their situations and about the nature of their work. I also got the opportunity to briefly interact with many of the women in the shelter. It truly a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. It showed me how far a simple act of kindness can go, and I would love to go volunteer again anytime in the future.
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俄州亚太联盟公众号是APAPA Ohio在俄亥俄华人协会(OCAA，OhioCAA.org)的支持下办的公众号，旨在为俄亥俄的亚裔群体、尤其是华人群体提供一个分享、交流、互助的平台，宣传APAPA Ohio 、OCAA和其他亚裔团体的活动，促进亚裔社区对美国社会、政治、文化、体育、艺术、教育、法律等的了解。APAPA的全名是Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (美国亚太联盟)，是在美国联邦政府注册的501(c)(3)非营利组织。网址：APAPA.org