The Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival 2009
May 18, 2009 | Yvonne Lim Wilson
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It’s no secret Asians love food. To celebrate Asian American Heritage Month, food and culture come together for a fantastic show benefiting Meals on Wheels.
“Why do we pick Meals on Wheels? It ties into our core values,” said Amy Wong Mok, founder and CEO of the Asian American Cultural Center, which is underwriting the event. “Food is important. Taking care of the elderly and young is important. We are celebrating our rich cultural diversity.”
“We are not just caring about ourselves,” Mok continued, saying that the event is an opportunity for the Asian community to reach out to the broader community as well as a chance for non-Asians to learn more about Asian culture.
The event is free with a suggested donation of $10 for adults and a can of food for children.
“For children, it will be an unforgettable experience they are doing something for the old and young and going to make a difference,” she said.
With these troubled economic times, helping others with basic necessities has become even more urgent. Mok herself has a friend who, after being unemployed for two years, found herself having to dig in dumpsters for food.
“Now there are so many people getting food from the dumpster [at Whole Foods], they had to lock them,” Mok said. “The down economy is not just affecting poor people. It is affecting professionals.”
Meals on Wheels offers much more than food delivery to the elderly. The organization also provides home repairs, care calls to clients, grocery shopping assistance, transportation to doctor appointments, meals for at-risk children and pet food.
Performances will be top rate, featuring Julliard students Charles Yang and Stephanie Chen – (Yang will perform his own composition); cellist Hai Zheng; Madam Shao on the guzheng; Beijing opera; Indian, Filipino, Korean, Japanese and Chinese dance; plus a presentation on Meals on Wheels.
Last year, the Asian American Cultural Center put on a show to raise funds for the earthquake victims in China. Mok says she wants to continue the tradition every year and offer a show celebrating Asian American Heritage Month while also benefiting a local charity.
”The Chinese, instead of saying ‘how are you?,’ we say ‘have you eaten yet?’ That shows how well you are,” Mok explained. “It’s another way of saying, if you haven’t eaten, I can do something for you.”
Join Austin’s Asian Occasion this Saturday, May 23 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Long Center. Pre-show begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the Long Center (474-LONG). $10 suggested donation for adults and canned or dry food suggested donation for children.
Sponsorships include VIP seating: Food for Joy, $500; Food for Soul, $300; Food for Thought, $200; Food for Body, $100. For details, contact Amy Wong Mok at the Asian American Cultural Center, 512-336-5069.
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