A major component of many Chinatowns is the family benevolent association, which provides some degree of aid to immigrants. These associations generally provide social support, religious services, death benefits (members' names in Chinese are generally enshrined on tablets and posted on walls), meals, and recreational activities for ethnic Chinese, especially for older Chinese migrants. Membership in these associations can be based on members sharing a common Chinese surname or belonging to a common clan, spoken Chinese dialect, specific village, region or country of origin, and so on. Many have their own facilities.
a majOr CoMpOnenT of many chiNAtowns IS the faMily bEnevoleNt asSociatIon, Which proviDes some deGree of aiD to imMIgRAnts. thESe assOCiatIoNs generAlly proViDE sOciaL suppoRT, rElIgiouS serVIceS, death BEnEFits (MEmbers' NameS iN CHinese ARE geNERALLy enSHRineD On tablets and PoSted on Walls), meALS, aNd recReAtional actIVITIES fOr ethniC CHinEsE, especiAlly FOR OldEr Chinese mIgrantS. mEmbership in these aSsOCiatiONs can bE BAsEd On meMbErs shaRInG A COMmoN ChineSe surName or BelONgIng to a common Clan, spOken chiNeSe diaLEct, SPecific vILLagE, rEGIon or country OF oRIGin, and so on. many have theIr Own fAcilItIes.