Melody and Charlie are native San Franciscan retirees who enjoy photography, quilt making, and daily walks in their hilly neighborhood.
Melody's upbringing shaped her values and understanding of On Lok. Her parents immigrated from Hong Kong to San Francisco in the 1950s. Melody recalls her parents sharing food, shelter, and meager incomes with newly arrived relatives and friends from China. They instilled in her and her two brothers the value of making lives better for others; obstacles did not stop them from extending a helping hand.
Though Melody and Charlie had donated small amounts through the years, Melody became much more engaged with On Lok after meeting an On Lok Development Team member in 2019 in appreciation of her contributions.
After that initial contact, Melody introduced On Lok's Director of Development, Jessica Chang-Greenman, to the Lincoln Park Quilters. That year, the group, including Melody, created 57 tote bags and pillowcases filled with essential goods and 8 quilts for the On Lok Mission Nutrition home-delivered meals program. Since then, Lincoln Park Quilters have donated 445 totes and 23 quilts, delighted that stitching fabrics together can touch the lives of strangers.
Melody and Charlie's monetary support of On Lok has continued monthly for the last several years. "We feel monthly donations have an impact," said Melody and Charlie. "We don't need to wait until the end of the year to give to On Lok and other worthy causes that provide warm hearts and hot meals to those who are less fortunate, or even just lonely."
