Member honored for helping homeless
CSEA member Betty Chinn does a lot more than work in the office of Lafayette Elementary School.
Chinn is a remarkable humanitarian, who has never forgotten the hardship of her childhood and how far a little help can go. Twice a day, seven days a week for 23 years, Chinn has served food and hot coffee to hundreds of people in Eureka—some of them homeless, some just going through hard times.
Last fall, Chinn received national recognition for her efforts. Oprah Winfrey featured Chinn on her show entitled “Women Who Changed the World.” U2’s Bono called her a hero, and California’s First Lady Maria Shriver presented her with the prestigious Minerva Award.
Before traveling to the Women's Conference in Long Beach, Chinn made sure that the 300 people she helps in Eureka would get care packages in her absence. At the conference, she received a standing ovation from 14,000 people as she humbly accepted her award.
“I accept this award for the desperate people and the needy people,” she said. “This award is not about me, it’s about them.”
Bono, a social activist in his own right, gave the keynote address at the conference. He praised the work done by Chinn and the four other award winners, including Gloria Steinem and Billie Jean King.
“We play at being heroes,” Bono said. “Those women are the actual heroes.”
More than two decades ago, Chinn began her heroic quest as a concerned parent. Her son was a kindergartner at Lafayette School. At the time, Chinn couldn’t speak English so her young son served as translator.
“One girl at school came up to me and said ‘Mrs. Chinn, I’m so hungry.’ I told my son to tell her if she’s hungry, to eat more tonight and tomorrow she won’t be hungry anymore. And then she tells me that she and her sister and her mom and dad live in a car. That’s how I started.”
The young girl’s story of hardship resonated with Chinn. Born in China, Chinn was separated from her family at age 7 and forced to walk 1,600 miles to Hong Kong to escape the violence of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution. She eventually made her way to America with just $20 in her hand.
Today, Chinn spends her life giving back to people who need it, especially children. In addition to the kids she sees at Lafayette School, she helps dozens of homeless children—21 of whom are under the age of three.
“When you see a kid who lives in the bushes and is filthy, they don’t fit in anywhere,” Chinn said.
Last fall, she passed out 50 backpacks and 1,200 sets of clothes for homeless children. Chinn, who knows all the kids personally, made sure they had their favorite colors and whatever else made them feel good about themselves.
Chinn doesn’t stop at clothing and food. Every morning, she transports at least a dozen of children to places where they can get showers before school. When they are sick, she helps them get seen by a doctor. She remembers when she was seven, homeless and alone.
Perhaps what’s most amazing about Chinn’s efforts is what she accomplishes given the size of her operation. Essentially, it’s just her and anyone who’s willing to help. Her budget is whatever she has in the refrigerator. It’s simply giving in its purest form.