How inspiring! A man from Pingtung drives a food truck on a "round-the-island burger sale" to support children at an orphanage.

▲ Chen Weiqiang, Yang Qi, Liu Jiancheng, and Zeng Zhifg — four passionate young men driving a food truck together around the island to sell charity burgers. (Photo / Screenshot fromWow American Restaurant’s official fan page; all others below are the same)

By Reporter Li Zi Yi / Reported

Chen Weiqiang, the owner of an American-style restaurant in Pingtung, and his friends are driving a food truck around Taiwan selling burgers for charity. All profits go toward buying ingredients to make burgers for underprivileged children at orphanages — and they even teach the kids how to make them themselves! Chen Weiqiang, who is only 30 years old this year, says that success isn't about how much money you earn, but how many people you've helped. He hopes to set an example and inspire more people to continuously care for those in need.

This year marks Chen Weiqiang’s second round-the-island burger sale charity drive. Starting on July 1, he and his friends Yang Qi, Liu Jiancheng, and Zeng Zhifg began their journey from Pingtung, heading north. They stay three days in each location selling burgers, then on the fourth day head to an orphanage to make and serve burgers to the children — and teach them how to make their own. These passionate young people share a common belief: it's better to teach someone how to fish than just to give them a fish.

▲ In Yunlin, there was a long queue of customers. Friends from Tainan and Chiayi also came specially to buy burgers and cheer them on.

Chen Weiqiang opened his American-style restaurant in Pingtung three years ago. Grateful for the help he received along the way, he began the round-the-island burger charity effort as soon as the business became stable. He explained that the restaurant is located in a school district, so during the summer vacation when the kids are out of school, he decided to launch the burger charity drive. Ideally, he hopes to hold such events every year. Starting from Pingtung, they passed through Kaohsiung, Tainan, Chiayi, and Yunlin. They faced typhoons and rain, and on the worst days sold only about 30 burgers, while on the best days they managed to sell over 100. Some members of the public even braved the stormy weather during typhoons just to buy a burger and take part in the charitable act.

Chen Weiqiang said he himself was rebellious and hot-headed in junior high, often at odds with his teachers. But as he grew older and entered high school, he met teachers who were understanding and supportive, which completely changed his outlook on life. He secretly resolved that when he grew up, he would help others too. Having received a lot of help in his life, he now wants to give back to society in his own way now that he has some ability. He asked, “Do I have to wait until I’m rich to start doing good? You can do charity without being rich!”

▲ People everywhere have been very warm and welcoming, with some even becoming friends.

Chen Weiqiang said that following the itinerary, this year’s round-the-island charity burger sale will continue until the end of August. Next stops include Changhua, Taichung, Miaoli, Hsinchu, Taoyuan, Taipei, Keelung, Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung. From July 23 to 26, they will be in Changhua, selling burgers in front of Pasb Creative Ice Cream Shop. The shop not only provides the venue but also sponsors 100 fruit popsicles to join the charity sale.

▲ The round-the-island burger sale offers five flavors of beef burgers, specially using Angus beef with richer marbling.

The food truck offers five types of beef burgers: creamy sauce, peanut, bacon, pineapple, and original flavor. Each burger is priced at NT$160, and they can cook up to 12–15 beef patties at a time, which takes 15 minutes. Chen Weiqiang emphasized that even though this is a charity effort, taste is still very important. That’s why they chose Angus beef with rich marbling instead of reconstituted meat.

Chen Weiqiang joked that many customers ask if the American restaurant in Pingtung is closed because of the round-the-island charity drive. In fact, other staff members are running the shop as usual. Visitors can still stop by to chat and enjoy a burger. Undertaking this charity burger sale may seem like Chen Weiqiang is the one giving and doing good, but he doesn’t see it that way. Instead, he feels he has gained a lot, and has made many friends along the way. During the trip, he received a lot of help from kind-hearted people, such as offers of accommodation and ingredients. These helpful individuals are ordinary folks, just like you and me — not particularly wealthy, but willing to contribute, all with a heart eager to give back to society.

▲ Three days selling burgers, then the fourth day teaching kids at the orphanage how to make their own — hoping to pass on a useful skill.

During the trip, Chen Weiqiang and his team interact with the public via their fan page, announcing their next stop. They hope that through sharing and reposting by netizens, more people who want to take part in the charity can follow their journey. They are also looking for accommodations, shops, and street vending spots along the way to help or join the charity effort.