The Chinese Restaurant Association of Alberta sincerely invites street friends to taste Chinese meals to celebrate the Chinese New Year (photo)

The Chinese Restaurant Association of Alberta sincerely invites street friends to taste Chinese meals to celebrate the Chinese New Year (photo) Restaurants will celebrate the New Year and share generously with street friends...

Restaurants will celebrate the New Year and share generously with street friends. Street friends will enjoy the delicious food

(Alberta Times Zhou Yishen) Spring returns to the earth, full of spring spirit. On February 16, 2013, the Chinese Restaurant Association of Alberta distributed Chinese meals to street residents at the Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS). The event was well-ordered and full of harmony. At 11 a.m., accompanied by the sound of gongs and drums, a lion dance performance with a strong Chinese flavor kicked off the event. The street residents were in high spirits. They lined up in a long queue and waited quietly to receive food. Mr. Gao Zhizhong, director of the Chinese Restaurant Association of Alberta, said that distributing free meals to street residents is the Chinese Restaurant Association of Alberta’s active response and cooperation with CASS’s service work. This is the fourth consecutive time the association has distributed meals to homeless people. They have specially prepared Chinese meals for 1,000 people, which can meet the dining needs of street friends in terms of quantity, quality, and taste. It is understood that the leaders and backbones of the association sacrificed their personal time to plan and organize this charity event for free. The reporter learned that the recipes for this meal include rice, stewed beef, stir-fried broccoli, orange-flavored chicken quick and fried vegetarian spring rolls. In addition, it also comes with good-luck cakes and various drinks. The reporter saw that the Chinese chefs took out the cooked food from the iron containers and placed them one by one in stainless steel food containers on the display table. Orange-flavored chicken nuggets and fried vegetarian spring rolls are cooked and fried on site.

Busily preparing delicious Chinese food

The hot Chinese food is all ready

When the street friends received the meals delivered by the event organizers, smiles and thanks appeared on everyone's face. Everyone sat relaxedly on the green lawn and enjoyed a delicious Chinese lunch under the warm sunshine. At the same time, the co-organizer The Future Is Now Foundation invited a band to perform to add excitement to the event.

Restaurant Association directors share meals with street residents. When talking about the original intention and significance of this event, Mr. Deng Chaoju, director of the Alberta Chinese Restaurant Association and founder of the association, said affectionately that on the occasion of the Chinese New Year, the association invites street residents to share the joy of the Chinese New Year. This not only represents the friendship of the association’s 400 member units, but also demonstrates the Alberta Chinese Restaurant Association’s willingness to give back to the society. Mr. Deng Chaoju said that the association will continue to serve street residents here next year. It is understood that the activity of distributing free meals to street residents is held four times a year and is hosted by different units. Each February, April, September and December are hosted by the Alberta Chinese Restaurant Association, Tzu Chi Phoenix Liaison Office, Chinese Federation and Overseas Chinese Federation. Each event is co-organized by the Alberta Chinese Restaurant Association.

(from left to right) Restaurant Association Directors Lai Jiayi, Wu Yizhao, Deng Chaoju, CASS leader, TFINF chairman John Shultz

Lu Shaoming, Xu Guofu, Gao Zhizhong, CASS security captain took a group photo at the event