美国新冠疫情日记07/21

Food Drive In The International District

Mayor Turner came to the International District last weekend to join the food drive at the Boone Road Church. More than one hundred church volunteers and community leaders helped to give away thousands of bags of food to needy families.

In the long lines many of our local residents lined up in hundred-degree heat waiting for food packages.  Some of them were single moms with small kids. Some of them had lost jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic.

When Mayor Turner walked into the crowd, people called him “Governor Turner” when they saw him coming. At first I didn’t understand. Finally it was clear that these people wanted him to run for Governor in the future. Mayor Turner is a Harvard graduate and his leadership will lead him to a bright future.

For over fifteen years, with the leadership of State Representative Hubert Vo and many community leaders and with the support from the Mayor, the International District has changed the southwestern part of the city and has become a model for the city’s economy.

In this Pandemic we have given away hundreds of computers, food packages and plan to help the apartment complexes and shopping centers to sanitize the environment.

Many years ago we came to this great land to seek opportunity. Most of us have reached our America Dream. Today when we can extend our help to the local community, it is not just an honor, it is our responsibility.

After I handed out thousands of masks to our brothers and sisters in such hot summer weather, I still feel very happy. We are all really blessed. America is beautiful.

           走进群众送口罩

上週六市长特纳一行专程来到休斯敦国际区彭尔路的非裔教堂，参加了一项庞大的食物发送大会，我也参加并发放了二千多口罩，在这炎炎夏日汗流浃背的天气， 让人深切的体会到贫穷的滋味。

教会广场当天来了许多运送食物，包括蔬菜、水果、饮水、牛奶， 汽车长龙从中午就在排队，车中多半是老弱妇孺及单亲妈妈带上孩童，他们多半是因新冠疫情失业家庭，更有许多婴儿严重缺乏营养及尿布。

我们和市长走进教会大堂，群众高喊特纳州长来了， 我当时还未能理解，原来大家都已准备他市长卸任后，可能角逐州长，我们和市民交往多年， 这位哈佛毕业的非裔市长， 确实有高度之亲和力，此次疫情，他的表现可圈可点。

国际区近十五年来在大家共同努力下，基本上已经脱胎换骨，过去一片农田耕地的百利大道如今大小商家到处林立， 然而居住人口仍然生活在贫困线下。

当疫情肆虐时，国际区执委会已为贫穷孩童选购三百台平板电脑，捐赠食物及婴儿奶粉及用品，并正在策划为近百家商家及公寓消毒淸洁。

多少年前，我们带着对美利坚共和国之无限憧憬及希望，在此拼搏数十年，今天能伸手为这些贫困大众，略尽薄力，也算是对社会做出贡献。

在百度高温之下，在汗流浃背之夏天，我尽量把口罩送到每一台在等待的车队中，回程途中，真的百感交集，美国还美吗？