Chinese Celebration Left Hungry for Bellies to Feed

Plans to celebrate Chinese New Year on Sunday by feeding as many as 200 homeless and poor people in Simi Valley did not go exactly as Jacky and Danny Chow planned.

But the Chow brothers, co-owners of China Express restaurant in Simi Valley, said they were not discouraged after only 10 or so needy people took advantage of the free dinner at Grace Brethren Church.

Organizers, who publicized Sunday’s dinner to 15 area churches and sent letters directly to 200 area residents identified by local agencies as needy, said they did not understand the reasons for the low turnout.

“We’re going to keep this up, at least once or twice a year,” said Jacky Chow, who with his brother decided two weeks ago to prepare the meal as a gesture of friendship to the community.

The tradition of the Chinese New Year, which began Thursday, is to start the year with “something good,” Jacky Chow said. In that spirit, the Chows prepared more than a dozen large trays of broccoli beef, sweet-and-sour pork, fried rice, chicken noodles and other Chinese dishes--enough for more than 200 people. The food was worth about $900.

About 20 church members and restaurant employees were on hand, but there were few to serve. About 3:30 p.m., the leftovers were packed up and donated to one of the rescue missions in Los Angeles.