Asian-led initiatives supporting the Vancouver community during COVID-19

The current global pandemic may be keeping individuals physically apart, but it is also bringing communities closer together.

From delivering food to sewing masks and sharing artwork with messages of hope – individuals are rising above the current circumstances and channelling their energy towards helping others, especially those bearing the brunt of the impact from the pandemic.

During these seemingly dark and uncertain times, stories of kindness and human connection have become our beacons of light. They provide a much needed mental break from the saturation of COVID-19 information at every corner we turn.

Within the Asian community, there has been no shortage of action as volunteers, businesses and organizations joined in solidarity to lift up those in need and to fill gaps in the current system.

While there are many extraordinary grassroots initiatives, we want to share stories from two Vancouver-based projects that have stepped up since the beginning of the crisis: Chopsticks to Vancouver Health Care Heroes and Chinatown Care Packages.

Whether it is catering to frontline workers despite business hardships or supporting the vulnerable Chinese seniors, it is more important than ever for us to lean on one another. Regardless of the differences in culture, socioeconomic status, financial capacity or personal circumstances, there is always capacity for compassion.

Chopsticks to heroes: Asian restaurants banding together to feed the frontline health workers

An Asian woman wearing a hair net, face mask, and gloves assembles a bento box on a counter in front of her. Next to her on the counter are stacks and rows of more bento boxes. — Photo Credit: Chinese Restaurant Awards

Inspired by “Feeding the Frontline”, Chopsticks to Vancouver Health Heroes is an initiative led by Chinese Restaurant Awards which has leveraged a network of over forty Richmond-based restaurants to prepare a total of 4,980 heartwarming meals for the frontline healthcare workers.

“Front line staff are really stressed out and working long hours,” said Rae Kung, managing director of Chinese Restaurant Awards and founder of Chopsticks to Heroes. “Most hospital cafeterias and food services have very limited hours of operations or are closed.”

Since January, many Asian restaurants have started to see the negative impact on the industry due to COVID-19. However, the declining business revenues and closures have not deterred restaurants from going above and beyond in preparing these meals, providing generous portions that exceed the $5 paid to the restaurant through crowdfunding to cover the basic cost.

“Some of the restaurants that have already closed brought in their chefs just to cook these meals,” Kung said.

Since day one, Ko has been floored by the generosity of the food industry, ranging from produce to a thousand pounds of Chinese sausages. An owner and chef of one of their partnering restaurants alone raised $5,800 in the first two days of the campaign.

“All of us are just trying to contribute to the community,” Kung said. “Restaurants are doing what they are good at: making good food.”

Giving back to the community has helped Kung to stay busy and get through these tough pandemic times. She believes everyone can do their part and encourages others, if possible, to purchase takeout every couple of days to support local businesses.

“The world is changing every day,” Kung said. “People should start to come out of their fear and do something positive for the community.”

Chinatown Care Packages: delivering groceries and comfort to Chinese seniors

A woman wearing a face mask stands in the doorway of an entrance to a building, placing a brown paper bag on an elevated table. Another brown paper bag already sits on the table.

Seniors are amongst the most vulnerable populations in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. For many Chinese seniors living in Vancouver’s Chinatown already struggling with isolation due to language and cultural barriers, the current predicament is leaving them feeling more alienated than ever.

“A majority of seniors live alone or with their partner in Chinatown and don’t have anyone else to lean on,” said Christina Lee, project manager of Chinatown Care Packages. “Many of them are afraid to go out, even to get basic needs such as groceries.”

Thanks to the phenomenal collaboration between the Yarrow Intergenerational Society for Justice, Bao Bei Brasserie, Hua Foundation, Chinatown Today and Vancity Credit Union, Chinatown Care Packages was launched to serve Chinatown’s seniors through delivering culturally-appropriate groceries.

“Many seniors tell us that the food being given out in the community is not something they are comfortable with eating,” Lee said. “Making sure they have access to familiar items like choi makes them feel like they have control over something.”

Not only is the project helping seniors, it is also giving local groceries stores a boost through its weekly orders. Many of the businesses in Chinatown operate on low-profit margins and are struggling to stay afloat during this period.

Other than delivering fresh produce once a week, volunteers from the Yarrow Intergenerational Society for Justice phone seniors on a regular basis to offer emotional and language support and to ensure they have the most up-to-date information on COVID-19.

Lee hopes this experience will help improve support and access to services in the future for the offline community, especially seniors and those living in the downtown eastside.

“The collaboration and teamwork are heartwarming to see during a global crisis,” Lee said. “It also allows us to reimagine what is possible so we can build a better and more inclusive system for the post-pandemic future, where no one is left behind.”