The month of May in the United States marks a time of appreciation, celebrating both National Teacher's Day and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. For the community at Landis Elementary School in Texas, it was also a time to honor a special, long-standing bond. Since 2008, Tzu Chi volunteers have partnered with the school through the "Happy Campus" project, providing essentials like winter clothes and stationery to students in need. This year, the tradition continued with a Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, a gesture of gratitude that also brought the school community together to celebrate the spirit of giving.

A Cycle of Giving and Gratitude

The partnership between the school and the volunteers is built on years of mutual trust and a shared commitment to the students' well-being. Jennifer Silva, the current principal at Landis Elementary, was already familiar with this supportive presence from her time at another school. She expressed her appreciation for the consistent support that starts even before the school year begins.

"Thank you so much to the volunteers who start preparing the school supply donation drive before school even starts," Principal Silva said. "On the first day of school, teachers provide a list of students who need supplies. To ensure students can learn smoothly, the school discusses and arranges with the volunteers to get the items into the students' hands so they can use them immediately in class."

This support extends beyond the classroom. "When the weather changes, the clothing donations provide warmth for many students and are a real relief for some families who cannot afford winter coats," she added. "The children are very grateful."

This act of receiving kindness has, in turn, inspired a desire to give back. Through the introduction of Tzu Chi’s "Bamboo Bank" story of saving small coins daily to perform good deeds, students and teachers have embraced the idea that everyone can help others.

Brenda Baldesi, the school district supervisor and volunteer liaison, has witnessed this transformation over the eleven-year collaboration. "It's a great learning opportunity for the students," she explained. "Just as they receive help—jackets, school supplies, uniforms—we can also give back to help more people. It's a virtuous circle: receiving help from others, and then helping others. This compassion will continue to be passed on."

Small Coins, Big Lessons

The spirit of giving has become a tangible, daily practice in the school’s classrooms. Fabiola Simoneaux, a first-grade teacher, actively encourages her students to participate. "I encourage all my students to join me because I love helping people, so I tell all my students that it's important to help others," she shared.

Every day, she brings a bamboo bank to her classroom. "Put a coin in the bamboo bank, because we must accumulate more blessings," she tells her young students. "We must do many, many good things, so we need to keep putting in more donations and feel the bamboo bank getting heavier." She reminds them that every single coin, no matter the amount, deserves a round of applause.

This lesson in compassion resonates throughout the school. Ana C. Lopez, the school’s librarian of thirty-one years, was delighted to see the volunteers and participate. While enjoying the vegetarian meal, she received a small red packet containing a Jing Si Aphorism: "Happiness is not about having a lot, but about fussing over little." The wisdom in the simple phrase resonated with her. "Thank you so much for your good deeds all over the country," she said. "Everyone should do good deeds, everywhere. Everything the volunteers do is worthy of thanks."

An Ingenious Way to Collect Kindness

On May 2, the day of the luncheon, the atmosphere was filled with warmth and joy. Volunteers served a delicious vegetarian meal of fried rice, tofu casserole, spring rolls, and fried noodles, hoping to inspire more people to adopt a plant-based diet for the good of the planet and all living beings. Some teachers, impressed by the flavors and the simple recipes provided, said they were eager to try cooking the dishes at home.

A highlight of the event was a unique, modified collection box. To make the act of giving more engaging, volunteers created a beautiful receptacle shaped like the Jing Si Abode. Designed by architect and volunteer Richard Chi (紀克明), it was constructed from repurposed plastic pipes by volunteer Han-Sheng Chu (朱漢聲) and assembled by Tzu Chi Youth members. A bamboo ramp guides the coins, creating a delightful sound as they are dropped in.

"They are all excited to bring their bamboo banks and pour them into our collection box," said Julienne Chi (林華音), Deputy CEO of Tzu Chi’s Texas chapter. "Hearing that sound probably makes them very excited, too. We are truly grateful that they have all come together to express their love."

The enduring connection between the school and the volunteers has weathered changes in leadership and staff, remaining a source of mutual trust and joyful anticipation. What began as a partnership has blossomed into a warm, family-like bond, where every meeting feels like a reunion of old friends, planting seeds of love and hope that continue to grow within the community.

Written by Hsiu-Lien Chu (朱秀蓮), Ching-Hung Yeh (葉晉宏)

Source: 幸福校園感恩餐會 共善匯聚愛心叮咚響