Chen Family
Food Connects Us
In the middle of the pandemic. That’s when the Chen Family began volunteering with The Honeycomb Project.
Prior to COVID, Corinna, her husband, Lubin, and their two boys, Nathan and Brayden, helped out at various school events and at the Greater Chicago Food Depository--but it was the pandemic that brought them to Honeycomb.
“My parents live downstairs from us,” says Corinna, “in their own place.” “During the pandemic, it was hard for them to buy groceries for themselves…and we heard so much news about seniors being scared to go out shopping or not being able to access food. So after that, I started thinking that we need to help in whatever capacity that we can.”
The family decided to ramp up their volunteer efforts last summer since Nathan (age 14) and Brayden (age 12) didn’t have many activities during COVID. The family searched online and found Honeycomb.
“We’re very lucky to have food at home,” stresses Corinna, “we choose Grocery Shopping for Seniors so we could help those not as fortunate.” Corinna’s family have become regulars, helping seniors at Lincoln Perry Apartments, a Chicago Housing Authority affordable housing community in Bronzeville.
“It’s our family’s love of food that connects us to each other and connects us to others,” she says. “The kids help pick and order the groceries online, and then we pick-up the food and the boys help pack it up the night before.”
Nathan and Brayden also participate in Honeycomb At Home, a virtual volunteer program with self-guided lessons, discussion guides and activities. Mom says, “the kids made postcards at home and wrote messages of support for Artwork for Seniors…and for the Hive School Drive, we gathered a bunch of school items and dropped them off as well.” Corinna loves how Honeycomb allows her family to choose from a variety of volunteer projects around the City.
The Chen Family resides in McKinley Park and enjoys taking walks together and having family movie nights. Corinna is a Project Coordinator at UIC and Lubin is a Multi-Media Designer at Kineo. Nathan plays chess and is an expert video gamer and Brayden loves all things Legos. The boys attend Mark Sheridan Academy in Bridgeport.