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George Chan stays overnight to protect 5,000 food bags

George Chan stays overnight to protect 5,000 food bags

(SAN FRANCISCO) The 5,000-bag food giveaway event has become a well-recognized tradition for the Chinese Newcomers Service Center for decades. The 2024 food drive was even more unique and challenging for George Chan, Executive Director of the center. He decided to stay overnight at the Cameron House playground to ensure the safety of each $75-valued food bag.

  • (SAN FRANCISCO) On June 15, 1924, seven very young, talented and educated Chinese-American women wanted to do something for the flood victims in China, so they co-founded the Square and Circle Club to raise funds. 100 years later today, the organization is still continuing its passion of service and philanthropy for the community.

    The Square and Circle Club was formed by 7 young and talented Chinese American women on June 15, 1924 in San Francisco. Alice Fong Yu served as the Club’s founding president. Courtesy the Square and Circle Club
  • (SAN FRANCISCO) As a result of the recent ruling by the San Francisco Board of Appeals, LionDanceMe announced the ending of its regular outdoor lion dance performances on Grant Avenue on all weekends in June.

    LionDanceMe called for a press conference with supporters on April 20 to announce the 3rd annual Inter-League Dragon Dance Competition and the conclusion of their Grant Avenue weekend street performances in June. Photo by Portia Li
  • (SAN FRANCISCO) BeChinatown, main organizer of the popular Chinatown Night Market, was approved by the City to expand the venue of the upcoming night market events from three blocks to five blocks on Grant Avenue despite opposition from merchants and residents.

    An English-only street closure permit application notice is posted on a light pole on Grant Avenue. It seeks to expand the Chinatown night market venue from 3 to 5 blocks on Grant Avenue. Photo by Portia Li
  • (SAN FRANCISCO) Removing parking and lacking of moving traffic are known as killers of local businesses. For the past over three years since the pandemic, the residents and merchants along three blocks of Grant Avenue in the center of San Francisco Chinatown have also suffered the loud noise from drums and amplified sounds as well as inaccessible vehicular traffic on both Saturday and Sunday year long on all weekends.

    Merchants have filed an appeal against the city permit which allows the LionDanceMe to close three blocks Grant Ave. on all weekends year long for lion dance performances. Photo by Portia Li
  • (SAN FRANCISCO) With a significant donation from Civic Joy Fund, San Francisco Chinatown will continue to have night markets held year-round in 2024 starting March 8 on a Friday night from 5:30 pm to 9pm.

    Thousands of visitors pack the 2-night night market in Chinatown on November 10 and 11, 2023 in celebration of the APEC Summit. Photo by Portia Li
  • (SAN FRANCISCO) On February 8, two days before the Lunar New Year Day, merchants and residents in San Francisco Chinatown were busy preparing for the celebration of the largest festival in the Chinese community. When merchants and family association members heard of the new conference going to be held at the Hotel North Beach that morning, they kept calling everyone to show up at the site to protest against the sober living housing facility plan.

    Chinatown Merchants United Association President Ed Siu (center) and his members question Mayor Breed why the Chinatown community is not informed of the plan. Photo by Portia Li
  • (SAN FRANCISCO) New contemporary art lanterns were installed to join the iconic red lanterns at 800 Grant Avenue to light up San Francisco Chinatown and welcome the upcoming Lunar New Year.

    Prismatic Shift lanterns are installed between the traditional red lanterns outside Edge on the Square to light up San Francisco Chinatown. Photo by Portia Li
  • (SAN FRANCISCO) APA Family Support Services (APAFSS), which serves children and families in need, opened its Family Resource Center at the heart of San Francisco Chinatown in December. The first public event at the new center will be "Masked Hero" Book Talk on December 23.

    APA Family Support Services’ brand new Family Resource Center located at 518 Grant Avenue in San Francisco Chinatown opens for service in December. Photo by Portia Li
  • (SAN FRANCISCO) The second Chinatown Night Market hosted by Lily Lo of BeChinatown in welcoming the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has again proved the success of the night market idea to bring in more businesses to the struggling Chinatown economy. The continuous success has inspired Lo to plan for her third night market during the Christmas holidays.

    It is a huge success at the APEC Chinatown Night Market on Nov. 10 & 11. Over 10,000 people are estimated to come to the night market. Photo by Portia Li