Food, family, community, and safety.

This story is off the beaten path of fundraising and is more about community and community building.

I remember the day I first heard of White Springs Cafe.

It was during COVID and my husband and I were getting used to ordering dinner to be delivered a little more often than before.

As I searched “vegan” near us this place I had not heard of popped up.

Hello White Springs Cafe. Located in downtown Arcadia, they were only one city over from us. They were listed as a Thai cafe, all the better for both of us who love Thai food.

Within an hour we were delighted with delicious, fresh, and flavor-packed Thai dishes.

This first meal would not be the last. Far from it. I had no idea how much White Springs Cafe would become part of my life.

About two months after we first ordered, we were running errands and decided to swing by and have lunch.

As we talked to the women at the counter, they realized that we were “Dan and Mike” from the many orders and exploded in joy. They were thrilled to meet us in person.

We felt it.

—

We had another delicious meal while getting to know them a little better.

Mama and the others are some of the most kind and loving people one could ever hope to meet. Mama is from northern Thailand, a small town, and many of the flavors we experience at White Springs come from recipes Mama has known for her whole life.

A few minutes of being in White Springs you could tell that these women had one purpose: to serve delicious and flavorful Thai dishes with love and passion.

Then the season of anti-Asian hate crept its way into the Los Angeles area. As four Asian women running a business, they quickly became a target.

Mama wasn’t new to hate. She is a survivor of human trafficking.

They began living and working in fear. When listening to Mama tell me about what was happening, I immediately asked what I could do to support them. I realized a lot of the attacks were during slow periods, so I thought I could get my community involved in making it so there were fewer slow periods.

Mama appreciated that and had another idea.

She asked if I would be willing to spend a few hours there every week, on a specific day, joining other friends and family to help keep the bigots away.

Of course, I would.

Thus began the weekly visits to White Springs Cafe to simply be present and urge those coming through the door for awful reasons to turn right around.

My first time there for a shift I sat there broken hearted. It was difficult for me to grasp this concept of acting on one’s hate. I’m not ignorant. I have dealt with hate towards me many times times. I know it exists.

And I was surprised that people who seek out this place come into the restaurant to cause fear and use awful language.

Four amazing women who only want to share delicious food with the community. Their community. They want to feel safe while doing so.

I was happy to be part of them feeling safe. Mama and the team consistently told me that they felt safe when I was there, that they could focus on preparing delicious food and not have to be concerned every time the door opened.

Bigots were joined by misogynists and the occasional unhoused neighbor who was experiencing a panic moment.

I’m not alone. As we all know, there are more of us than them. Our community has been wonderful in supporting White Springs.

An example was when White Springs was damaged during a rare hurricane in the LA area. The roof leaked and portions of the ceiling collapsed into the cooking area. They had to close for just over a week.

Being closed for even a day can be devastating for a restaurant.

When they let me know the day they would re-open, I hopped into action. I knew there were many who loved and supported them. I invited our community and friends of mine to come in for a meal on the re-opening day. A chance to perhaps make up for some of the lost business.

The community showed up. Lunch was standing room only, and the afternoon and dinner crowds were steady.

It ended up being their second busiest day ever!

—

I kept joining them on Sundays, then added an occasional shift mid-day Wednesday. Now I show up when Mama requests, still usually a Sunday afternoon. As I have written in other stories, White Springs Cafe has become home for me.

I love these women. They are my family. I would do anything for them.

Plus I get to eat even more delicious, vegan, Thai food! They even named my favorite dish here after me: Dan’s Pad Prik King.

Their menu covers all of the Thai classics, which Mama creates from recipes she learned in her small hometown in northern Thailand. I have eaten here more than one hundred times and have always loved my dish. The flavor and freshness always get me.

And although it’s not as uncommon as in other cities, I love that I get to order Thai iced tea here, the vegan kind!

Mama also puts a lot of focus and energy into ensuring that your meal will be one of the healthiest.

Of course, I love this place.

—

If you would like to donate to an organization fighting anti-Asian hate, I recommend Asian Americans Advancing Justice