Nonprofit worker brings books, food and fun to San Francisco kids through mobile program
- Bay Area Nonprofits
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
A mobile after-school program is providing essential resources to children in San Francisco and the Peninsula through a specialized fleet of service trucks. The non-profit organization Mobilize Love targets neighborhoods where access to books, food and educational activities is limited.
Founded in 2017 by Christian Huang, the program focuses on high-concentration, low-income areas. Staff member Elaine Chea, a mother of three with a degree in education, travels to these communities to provide academic support and a sense of belonging for students.
Mobilize Love operates three distinct vehicles to meet the various needs of children. A food truck provides hot meals after school, while a stage truck offers a space for music and dance activities. A third vehicle, the book truck, acts as a mobile library to encourage literacy. Elaine Chea uses the book truck to motivate students to reach academic goals.
“You are stars… STARS… you’re going to watch your star move up every time you read a book,” Chea said.
Christian Huang, founder of Mobilize Love, said the organization specifically seeks out neighborhoods with the greatest need.
“We look for high concentration of low-income families in areas where there are not a lot of resources – that’s exactly the places we like to show up at,” Huang said.
He noted that the program has seen increased impact since Chea joined the staff. “She does not view this as a job… this is her passion and it’s a calling,” Huang said.
Chea’s motivation for her work is rooted in her personal history. She grew up in an under-resourced community and became a mother during her teenage years.
“I was ridiculed for being a teen mom, a lot of shame and guilt. It made me grow up very quickly,” Chea said.
She noted that she lacked the educational support as a child that she now helps provide for others.
“I don’t even have a core memory of my parents reading a book to me. I never had a library, or knew how to get to a library,” Chea said.
Huang said that Chea’s ability to bond with the community is unique among the organization’s staff members.
“She has connected with more children and families than any other staff member I’ve seen because she truly cares as if they are her own family,” Huang said. “There is almost no distinction between her family and the people we are serving.”
Chea described the children she serves as resilient assets to their communities.
“This is why I’m passionate and driven to do the work that we do. I show up because these are our true precious assets,” Chea said. “They are like diamonds. Where do you find diamonds? Under a lot of stress in the darkness.”
Source: Kron 4
Comments