The Asia Pacific Islander Public Affairs Association (APAPA) held its first Chinese New Year charity dinner event in Fremont on January 25th last Saturday, bringing warmth and care to the community with the support of community leaders.
The event featured a variety of delicious dishes, including fried shrimp balls, sweet and sour chicken, noodles, cheesy creamed corn cups, spring rolls, broccoli beef stir-fry, sushi, and fried dumplings, served buffet-style for over 40 residents of the Fremont Housing Navigation Center to enjoy.
Officials from the city of Fremont attended the event, including Vice Mayor Desrie Campbell, former Mayor Gusaccar, as well as council members Shao Yang, Zhang Yajing, Huang Jieyi, and Kathy Kimberlin.
The event was co-hosted by the Greater Fremont Chapter and Silicon Valley Chapter of APAPA.
President of the Greater Fremont Chapter of APAPA, Qiu Peizhi, stated to Epoch Times that this was the first time the association organized a Lunar New Year event for the homeless, providing them with a carefully prepared feast to experience warmth and care, celebrating a joyful Chinese New Year together.
She mentioned that APAPA’s mission is to assist more Asian Americans in integrating into mainstream society. The association has long been dedicated to organizing internship programs and leadership training activities. This year’s charity event marks a new beginning for our community service efforts, and we hope to be more actively involved in such charitable projects in the future to create a greater impact on the community.
The Fremont Housing Navigation Center was established under the leadership of former Mayor Gusaccar. She told Epoch Times that the establishment of this homeless center was to help people reintegrate into society and live with dignity.
The center has been operating for over three years, a source of pride for Gusaccar. “This is one of my most important achievements,” she said, noting that over 10 residents have successfully found new homes this month, marking the highest turnover rate since the center began operating.
She mentioned that there are many people in the city who need help, sharing touching stories from the center as examples. Therefore, she emphasized the crucial importance of providing temporary housing for the homeless. “It’s easy to criticize others, but for me, I believe we are all human beings.”
Councilmember Shao Yang explained that the city government aims to help more people in need, but resources are limited and challenges are significant. Currently, the center can accommodate a maximum of 45 people, while Fremont has nearly 800 homeless individuals.