Meet Christina Cheng-Patel | Mother, Researcher, Non-profit founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina Cheng-Patel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?

For me, the little things matter the most. In outreach, this would be mindful giving and serving. Under My Umbrella is a very small nonprofit that serves only 50-100 each week but each distribution is meticulously organized. If we have shelf-stable meal packs with fruit cups, we make sure to include plasticware. When we serve in the winter, we do our best to serve hot beverages. When we serve in the summer, our Gatorade is ice cold and our water is cold/frozen so that people can use them to cool down and then also drink later. We look over and sort through all donations to make sure that they are acceptable for giving. Anything I would not give or serve to my own boys or family, I will not distribute or serve to others. People are in need and of course people are grateful for just about anything but those in need also deserve a certain dignity and respect.

We recently did a fundraiser to buy our own Cambros to use to serve hot chocolate or cocoa this past winter. Our Cambros keep the water extremely hot. I realized that we needed more cups before a distribution one day and sent my youngest son to run into the store to pick some up. When he returned after quite a long time, I was shocked that he had spent so much money on cups with sleeves. I asked him why he bought those cups when the other cups were so much cheaper and we had a tight budget to adhere to. He said that when we go to Starbucks, our drinks always come with sleeves and he didn’t want our unsheltered neighbors to burn their hands so he looked at all the cups and decided that those cups with sleeves were the best ones. My children teach me every day and this was just one example. His thoughtfulness was a reminder to me that the little things do matter. I explained to him that we didn’t have the donations to always provide cups with sleeves but that I was proud of him for taking the time and effort and that we would make sure to tell people to be careful when picking up their drinks when we run out of these “good cups.”

Along the same lines, some people may think that their donations may be too small to help but it is collaborative efforts that powers this nonprofit. For example, someone may only have 3 small bags of chips and some plastic utensils to give. Those chips completed meals and were appreciated by 3 people.Those utensils were upcycled and used instead of being thrown away. Maybe someone can only spare $5. That $5 can help us buy ice pops to help cool people down during our scorching Texas summers. The idea of UMU is that everyone can help or give something…and even if it’s a little something, all those little somethings add up to big somethings. But it starts with the little things.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
In doing this boots-on-the-ground work that Under My Umbrella does, I have learned so much. I am indebted to those we serve for teaching me about life. I do outreach when I am frustrated or sad or mad or disappointed in my efforts to turn that negative energy into something useful and positive. And as I serve those in need, they often remind me about the things that are truly important and about what is actually necessary versus frivolous. My day-to-day job is as a pediatric vision coordinator. And my job reminds me every day that indeed health is our first wealth. The lessons I learn while at work or doing outreach are the same lessons I often emphasize with my own children. And getting our youth involved is a large part of my outreach work. I want kiddos to be able to get involved and learn these important life lessons along the way. I recently had someone ask if her kid and his friends could do something for service hours they needed for school. We decided that I would give the kids a budget and let them research stores and prices to get as much water and ice pops as they could within that budget for our summer outreach. They researched, they shopped, they delivered, and they helped those in need and learned how to budget so it was a win all around. Under My Umbrella was created to help people and to show the power of every single member of our community to be that source of help if they so choose. Just recently, one of our supporters saw a tent being given away in a “buy nothing” group. Knowing that we are always in need of tents, this person claimed it for us. Another person took the time to pick up and porch drop off that tent to our home base. Soon after, I received a request from a couple who had fallen on hard times and desperately needed a tent. I was able to meet them at a DART stop after work and give them that tent that had passed through several people to get to them. And each person who helped was integral in making sure that couple had a more comfortable place to rest at night. It may not seem like much but I believe that it shows how teamwork, looking out for each other, and doing what we can when we can, can ultimately make a difference. 

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Food is the universal language and there are so many hidden food gems in Dallas. There are many small business food sponsors that UMU partners with and I would most definitely recommend a tour of them all.
-Sweet Bri’s Bakery
-Boba Latte
-Hoja Bubble Tea and Taiwanese Street Food
-Mac and Cream
-Nub-it Cakes and Cream Puffs
-SpeckleBox
-Crack Brisket
-Marie’s Kitchen
And many many others. I would say that my friend would spend their entire Dallas trip just eating. And likely doing some outreach work!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I have quite the extensive list but I’d like to start with those who have encouraged me to start my own non-profit and all the dedicated small NPO founders that I have met doing this work. Small NPOs don’t often have the resources or manpower or equipment or funding as larger NPOs so we often have to work 10 times as hard while balancing work and family life. But we are in the streets directly serving the people day in and day out 24-7. It is our collaborative efforts and teamwork that allows us to cover so many in need and I am very grateful for the partnerships UMU has. Just to name a few I’d like to shout out: Helping Hands, Open Hearts. Caring Compassionate Hearts and Helping Hands. The Say My Name Project. Making It Count. Fort Worth Five Loaves Two Fish. Lunchbox of Love. Home of Joy. Pay It 4ward Projects.

My young boys are the foundations of our own nonprofit programs so I’d like to shout them out for learning with me, growing up alongside our nonprofit as it grows, and making outreach a part of their young lives and hopefully their futures as well.

Community is at the core of this outreach. And what powers the core is the people in our community. I’d also like to dedicate this shoutout to our donors and supporters. There are so many worthy initiatives and outreach efforts out there. I am very humbled every time someone chooses to support Under My Umbrella. Thank you!

Website: www.under-my-umbrella.org

Instagram: under_my_umbrella_DFW

Facebook: UnderMyUmbrellaDFW

Other: Email: UnderMyUmbrellaDFW@gmail.com