Known as “The Greatest Chief of Village”, Mr. Fang He-Sheng, the first generation that moved to the South Airport Community, has been living there for fifty-two years. The community was once a prosperous downtown, but since 1970, it has been diminishing to a poor and old community. Hence, it got its name “ The Oldest Public housing in Taiwan.” Within the 11000 resident in that community, there is more than 10% of elders who are in the age of 65 or above, which is approximately 1500 people.
Mr. Fang’s mother was gone when he was still a child, so despite of his father, many obliging neighbors would come and help him and his five brothers. Receiving the warmth and caring from his neighborhood, he determines to devote himself to the society.
Founder:
In his later years, he becomes the chief of that neighborhood. Acknowledging how the neighborhood has changed over time, he notices the improvements in technology causes distant relationships between neighbors. So in order to restore the community’s former life scene, he established the first food bank, opening for the minority group who need the resources. Such as elders who live alone, low income families, or immigrants. This ideology spreads to other charity organizations around Taiwan, forming similar programs.
Mr. Fang’s famous quote is “Eat first; “ A meal can solve any problem. Different from the system of the food bank, the food sharing fridge allows anyone who has the need to take the ingredients, despite of their social class. Mr Fang thinks that we should respect whoever is taking the food, because they may need help even they are not one of the minority group. Obviously, he won’t ask for proofs such as handicap handbook or low income household certificate etc. He said, “no human being is perfect,” and there is no one who can forever rely on him or herself. There will always be a day that you ask for external help. Mr. Fang once said that,“ People in Taiwan lack respect toward others and the idea of sharing.” Because of that, he uses the fridge to convey the ideas that he thinks is worth sharing, enlighten more places to call for actions and helping people who need support so they can be helped.
