21-11-2008 16:46:05
Town report dedicated to Austins
The China town report for 2007 has been dedicated to Lee and Ann Austin, “with profound gratitude,” for their years of “commitment, service and dedication to the things that make a difference.”
Lee is a China native and attended Erskine Acadmey. Ann was raised in Southern California.
Lee and Ann moved to China in 1979 and spent ten years as co-owners and managers of Willow Beach Resort on China Lake. Ann began teaching
kindergarten in the China school system in 1985. Their four children were educated in China schools.
After closing the Willow Beach Resort, Lee and Ann thought about what use the lodge could serve for the China community. In 1992, a group of ministers and concerned people met to form a China Food Bank. This group wished to address the problem of poverty on a local level. They were
interested in monthly distributions of federal supplemental food and other items under the oversight of the Department of Agriculture in Augusta targeting low income families, people receiving food stamps, the unemployed, or those otherwise in an emergency situation.
Shortly after forming the China Food Bank, additional sources of surplus food from area stores became available for distribution. Through the years, other shops and companies have contributed much needed supplies.
The pantry is entirely staffed with volunteers and its location is donated by Willow Beach, Inc., of China.
Besides those duties, Lee also volunteers his computer expertise with technical support for The Town Line newspaper, where, in 2003, he was honored with the Volunteer of the Year award. Lee also serves on The Town Line’s board of directors.
The China town meeting will be held Saturday, April 7, beginning at 9 a.m. at the China Middle School.