NAAAP volunteers with FareStart, 2/6

NAAAP-Seattle volunteered at FareStart on Feb. 6 for the first time of 2011.

As usual, FareStart attracts more volunteers than NAAAP-Seattle has spots available. NAAAP-Seattle members are given priority when registering for this popular volunteer event.

Volunteers this time include: Sherwin Tsao, Jenafer Park, Wilson Ung, Heng Sun, Katie Phan, Rina Shin, Charles Davis, Lilly Kuo, John Park, and Jiunn Lee.

For any information on NAAAP-Seattle's award-winning community service program, please contact NAAAP-Seattle Community Service Chair Jenafer Park at jenafer.park@naaapseattle.org.

First Friday NAAAP Mixer of 2011

On January 7, 2011, NAAAP Seattle organized its First Friday mixer of the year at Grand Cru Bar in Bellevue. Sixty people came and six people signed up for new membership. Social Chair Heidi Yu said she was pleased about the turnout. She added there were many new faces.

Helen Lee signed up for membership at the event. She said she wanted to join because, she "wanted to become better connected with other Asian American professionals in our community."

"I was impressed by the number of people that were in attendance, as well as the variety of professions which were represented," added Lee. "Great people, good fun!"

Jenafer Park, the new Community Service chair, conducted a survey about the NAAAP community service program. The 35 survey takers were entered in a drawing to win Starbucks gift cards. The winners included Karen Lin, Lisa Chen, and Jason Chu. The survey results will be used to improve NAAAPS' community service program.

Former Community Service Chair David Eam was elected as Vice President of Internal Affairs in December.

PR/ marketing Chair Julie Pham, Technology Chair Sherwin Tsao, NAAAP members Karen Lin and Mikii Liu, and first-time NAAAP event goer Paul Hopkins volunteered to register attendees.

Heidi Yu plans to organize a Dim Sum brunch sometime this spring at Wild Ginger. If you have any suggestions for mixer venues and social events please email heidi.yu@naaapseattle.org

The next First Friday Mixer will be held in Seattle on February 4, 2011. Please check the NAAAP website for details.

Photos by Mikii Liu.

Feeding the hungry through Farestart, Part II

On May 29, NAAAP-Seattle volunteers made their second appearance this spring at the Farestart kitchen.

Nine volunteers spent much of their Saturday preparing sack lunches and hot meals for food that will get distributed to childcare centers, including Head Start programs, and homeless shelters around the Seattle area.

NAAAP-Seattle member Jenafer Park said she found the work very rewarding, “knowing that we were helping put together meals that would feed about 2000 people.”

In the Farestart kitchen, Jenafer was accompanied by husband, John Park.

“We enjoyed meeting the people that were being trained through the Farestart program,” Jenafer said. “We got to see first-hand that Farestart makes a difference in their lives. It was an enjoyable and amazing experience overall.”

"Volunteering at Farestart was a very well rewarding and heart warming experience," said Nelson Siu, a veteran NAAAP-Seattle volunteer. "Knowing the food you helped prepare will be delivered to some needy person on the street that afternoon brings a sense of satisfaction that is hard to top."

NAAAP-Seattle Community Service Chair David Eam reported that all the volunteers said they “really enjoyed the activity and would return again.”

If you have a few spare hours and want to contribute to your community, consider volunteering in one of NAAAP-Seattle’s numerous community service opportunities. Coming up are opportunities to volunteer at CISC’s 38th Friendship dinner on June 12 and Habitat for Humanity, also on June 12.

Want to lead a community service project? Please contact David Eam at david.eam@naaapseattle.org