This year the Newman Fall Festival Committee voted Helen Loo and the Loo Family as the Grand Marshals of the 2024 Fall Festival.
“They are a generous family who go unrecognized often because they give from their heart and don’t want the spotlight,” Christine Eddington, the Newman Fall Festival Committee Chairman stated.
Each year the committee recognizes people or organizations who have had positive impacts within the community. “We are glad that the Loo’s accepted this year so we can recognize them for their contributions,” Eddington continued.
In 1966, Helen and her husband Fred Loo made the decision to leave their life in China for the land of opportunity in California. Dreaming of a better life for their kids they sought this golden opportunity and moved with family to Atwater. Their family had a grocery store and the Loo’s learned the grocery trade. In 1970 they took their $3,000 in their pockets and purchased a store that would become Diamond Foods in Crows Landing.
“It was either buy a business to make money, or buy a house and struggle to find work,” Anthony Loo, the youngest of the Loo family explained. “My mom had dreams of a better life for her children and she worked hard to build that life with Dad,” Loo said.
Helen and Fred have four children: Sansan Loo-Leu (oldest), followed by Roland, David, and Anthony. “When they opened the Crows Landing store we lived there too. It was truly a family business with just us running the store. My oldest sister was 8 years old at the time and she was running the register at times, Roland was cutting meat with Dad, and David and I stocked shelves and cleaned,” Loo stated.
“Our Dad was a very hard worker and focused on the business, while Mom did what she did best - build relationships within the community,” Loo said. Helen is a very giving soul by nature. She is known for being very generous with customers and understands what it means to be a community. “She would treat every person with open arms. She would just give food to people if they didn’t have any money or offer credit to people in between paychecks. She knew that sometimes people need help, and she is always willing to help,” Loo emphasized.
When the Loo’s moved to Crows Landing they only spoke Chinese. “I remember my mom would sometimes mix up English and Spanish as she was learning the languages of the customers. She genuinely wanted to connect with them and communicate and they were always so gracious in helping teach her over time,” Loo said. “She didn’t mind stumbling over words until she got it right, and that is one reason why customers love her.”
The Loo children saw the community their mom built and how kindness works firsthand. “We all learned about generosity by her actions and how she treats her customers,” Loo noted. Even when years were bad for business, Helen would never turn people away and wouldn’t say “no” to anybody. “We saw that as kids and it stuck with us. She really embodies the golden rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated,” Loo stated. Even through all her generosity she wouldn’t accept compliments. “She just did it because she enjoyed helping and never wanted the spotlight. She’s genuinely humble.”
In 1989, Fred Loo passed away. At the time the family had recently opened Diamond Foods in Newman and the kids, now adults themselves, asked their mom if she wanted to slow down. “That was the one time she said No, she can’t slow down and she needed to stay busy. We opened another store in Gustine (1995) and then in Hilmar (early 2000s),” Loo said. “She said we needed to continue to grow and honor our Dad.”
Helen is still known for her generosity as previous employees have mentioned how much they appreciated her. “Mom knew that some of her employees were on the football team and needed to be at practice or adults who had children of their own and needed to be at different events. She knew that our store schedule works around our employees, not the other way around,” Loo said. “She still gets stopped by former employees thanking her for teaching them valuable skills at the registers or simply just for hiring them and giving them a chance.”
The Fall Festival has always been a kind of homecoming for the Loos. “So many people would travel from out of town and gather for the weekend and would make a point to stop by and say hi and grab something from the deli,” Loo stated. “Everyone loves her cooking. They always tell her how much they miss the Chinese Food and her garlic chicken. I remember when she would try new recipes with the employees and they would be excited to try what she’s made.”
Joyce Loo, Anthony’s wife, admires her mother-in-law. “It’s because of her generosity and compassion that really fostered a loyal following of customers. They appreciated what she did for them when they were in need and it just followed her for decades. Even to this day when they see her or us they say, ‘How’s Helen?’ and remember her so fondly and affectionately.” It is through her continuous generosity that creates a ripple effect with those who know her.
Whenever a group would ask for help, the Loo Family helps. “We are a family who learned about giving from our mom. She’s the guiding force of our family. It’s never about the accolade, it’s always about giving what we can when we can.”
The Loo Family hopes that everyone has a joyous Fall Festival weekend and that you find ways to give unto others and to live like Helen: be kind and compassionate.
