Dumplings For Good
By Cameron Thornton, Head Section Editor
Blueprint Photos by Cameron Thornton
On a rainy Sunday afternoon, members of the Lamorinda community gathered to celebrate culture, friends and food, while also supporting the Dumplings For Good cause.
The Dumplings For Good event took place on Nov. 16 at the Lafayette United Methodist Church. The event was designed to raise money for White Pony Express, an organization that works to support local families facing food insecurity. This issue has been exacerbated by recent cuts in federal funding to food assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Lamorinda locals started the event with a live dumpling making demonstration. Then, participants split up into groups to make their own dumplings, choosing from meat and vegetable fillings. Each participant boxed up their dumplings to be cooked and eaten at home. Meanwhile, dumplings were also being made in the back kitchens and were served alongside tea and other Asian snacks.
The event provided community members with a chance to share longstanding traditions.
“I enjoy sharing something traditional that I grew up with with other people, and if other people enjoy it that makes me really happy,” dumpling making demonstrator Ting Liu said.
For those unfamiliar with dumpling making, the event was a cultural and educational experience.
“It’s so fun to watch people as they get better and better at making dumplings, seeing their first attempts versus their last attempts and how much they improved,” event volunteer and sophomore Evelyn Hollenberg said.
In addition to teaching how to make dumplings, the event also helped spread awareness about the issue of food insecurity in Contra Costa County, and gave community members a way to provide aid.
“[Events like this] bring people together and [they] also help educate [people] about the organizations like White Pony Express in our community that are here to support those who need a little extra help,” Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan said.
A major impact of the event was the growth of bonds within the community as Lamorinda locals came together to support a common cause and each other.
“I think the beauty of living in the small towns that we live in ... is that we really get to know each other and we want to continue to build that connection and community because with that connection and community we can take action and help each other,” event coordinator and volunteer Soundhari Balaguru said. “[It’s] this idea of mutual aid [and] mutual support.”
Numerous Acalanes students and parents were involved in the event as organizers and volunteers, hoping to make a difference in the community.
“My mom helped organize the event so I was able to go to the meetings and it seemed really cool and it’s for such a good cause, especially with the recent government shutdown and the loss of SNAP benefits,” Hollenberg said.
With the success of the Dumplings For Good event, the organizers look forward to hosting more food-based fundraisers in the future.
“We hope to do more ‘Food For Good’ events. This was our first one, our inaugural event, and we hope that we are able to do different events similar to this,” Balaguru said.
The event ultimately raised over $10,000 for White Pony Express, and provided the community with an invaluable opportunity to connect with others, learn about a cultural tradition, and eat delicious food.
“I hope [participants] got a sense of connection, that they came in with old friends and met new friends. I hope that people learned a little bit about dumpling making and that we’re sharing a cultural tradition that people can replicate at home, and also just to have a bridge to understanding a different culture,” Balaguru said. “The beauty of dumpling making is that it is done with families during the celebration feast, and so [there is a] spirit of joy and togetherness.”
