Local foundation puts on series of Lunar New Year feasts for the disadvantaged (2014/01/23)
For 24 years the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation has held Lunar New Year banquets for the homeless and other disadvantaged groups. Today it provided a 3,000-table feast for 30,000 people, spread out among 15 locations nationwide.
Just after noon today, chilled lobster was served. Next came pork shank and the classic Chinese soup known as “Buddha jumps over the wall.”
Homeless Person This is much better than past years. It has really improved and is all hot. Last year the chicken was frozen.
Restrictions on open flames at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall made it difficult to keep the dishes warm at the Taipei banquet last year. This year the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation switched to a parking lot in Nangang where there wasn’t the same problem. Among the many guests were homeless people and seniors who live alone.
Homeless Person When I returned to Taiwan, I served as the guarantor for home loans with a total principle of NT$15 million. These homes ended up being auctioned off for NT$6 million, nowhere near enough to cover the debt. Now, I live on the streets. It’s tough. Coming up with three meals a day can be challenging.
The sluggish economy made it difficult to raise funds. At one point, there were concerns that the event wouldn’t take place.
Quentin Cao Genesis Social Welfare Foundation People have had to draw their purse strings tight. It’s hard to ask them to help out when they have trouble meeting their own expenses. We had to expand our fundraising efforts and rely more on smaller donations of around NT$5 to NT$10.
Performers put on a show for the guests. Today was a warm day in more ways than one for disadvantaged groups in Taiwan.
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