Warmth to the sick in difficulty

Xuan Dai Pagoda volunteer group gives free porridge to patients at Nam Dinh General Hospital.

At 5:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, arriving at the Provincial General Hospital, we witnessed the members of the Xuan Dai Pagoda volunteer group busy with preparations to distribute porridge to the poor. Some prepared boxes, others arranged items, a corner of the hospital yard became bustling with the stories of the members. At exactly 6 o'clock, Tran Quoc Toan Street became bustling as more and more people came to receive porridge, most of them were relatives taking care of patients. After only 30 minutes, hundreds of porridge portions were delivered to the patients. Having just received a hot box of porridge in her hand, Ms. Pham Thi Mai, a relative of a patient being treated in the surgery department, said: "Due to her old age and frequent treatment at the hospital, my family's finances are difficult. When I received a porridge portion from the Xuan Dai Pagoda volunteer group, I felt very touched. This is a very meaningful activity, contributing to sharing and encouraging patients to have more faith and motivation to overcome difficulties and defeat the disease."

Since 2018, every Saturday, the Buddhists of the group have gone to the market to select ingredients and prepare more than 200 nutritious porridge portions to deliver to patients being treated at the hospital. Regardless of rain or shine, holidays or Tet, the Buddhists are always meticulous, careful, and dedicated to each bowl of porridge. Each bowl of porridge is a small gift but full of love and sharing, encouraging patients who are fighting against illness, overcoming difficult circumstances, and rising up in life. Participating in a charity porridge cooking and distribution session of the volunteer group, we were truly impressed and moved by the affection that everyone has for those facing difficulties in life. After 4:00 a.m., the kitchen area of Xuan Dai Pagoda was bustling with the footsteps of members preparing for the "Pot of Porridge of Love". Ms. Nguyen Thi Thoa, the volunteer group leader, said: “Everyone is busy, from farming, trading and taking care of their families. We assign tasks to each member, some prepare tools, some buy ingredients, some process… The maintenance costs are contributed by members of the volunteer group in cash and necessities. All expenses are public and transparent.

The group's activities have gradually received the attention and support of many villagers and benefactors. In addition to receiving cash support, many individuals also support the materials to ensure the "fire" to cook porridge for patients every Sunday morning". Mr. Pham Van Toan, who actively participates in the group's activities, said that cooking porridge to serve hundreds of patients seems simple but is actually very difficult. Ensuring food safety and hygiene must always be a top priority. In addition, because the subjects of service are patients, who are sick, the porridge must be cooked to be both delicious and nutritious.

With the joint efforts of the members, the Xuan Dai Pagoda volunteer group has organized hundreds of times of cooking porridge for poor patients at the Provincial General Hospital. Although they are familiar with the work, every time they see the affectionate eyes, words of thanks, and emotional tears of patients and their families, the group members are still filled with special emotions. Not only distributing porridge at the gathering place, many times the group members also enthusiastically bring meals to the beds of patients with difficulty moving. Patient Nguyen Thi Phien, Nam Dien commune (Nam Truc) said: "Eating a cup of delicious hot porridge, receiving care and encouragement from the group members, I feel like I am at home, not being treated in the hospital". Meanwhile, Ms. Luong Thi Hoa, a patient's family member, was moved: "I came here to take care of my child who is in the hospital, free meals like this have helped me save some of my expenses and living expenses during my child's stay in the hospital".

The “Pot of Love Porridge” of the volunteer group of Xuan Dai Pagoda has been spreading love in the community. Organizing the activity of distributing porridge to patients is not only to help poor patients, but through that meaningful work, it also spreads love between people, continuing the tradition of “mutual love and support” - a beautiful cultural feature of the nation.

Article and photos: Van Huynh

Source: https://baonamdinh.vn/xa-hoi/202506/am-long-nhung-nguoi-benh-kho-khan-63525af/