Friend of the poor

QTO - To help the poor, those in difficult circumstances, and people in areas affected by natural disasters and epidemics, many young people in the communes of Dong Le, Tuyen Phu, Tuyen Binh... of Tuyen Hoa district (formerly) established the "Friends of the Poor - 73D1" Club. Over 12 years of operation, the club has successfully organized many charitable programs, helping thousands of disadvantaged people both within and outside the province.

Connecting with volunteers

Mr. Ha Trong Sau, Chairman of the "Friends of the Poor - 73D1" Club, shared: "I was born and raised in a poor rural area, witnessing many families not having enough to eat, relatives suffering from serious illnesses and dying because they lacked the money for treatment, or poor rural areas devastated after storms and floods... Therefore, I felt I needed to do something to help those in need. But even with determination and empathy, I couldn't do it alone; I needed like-minded people and the support of the community. From there, I connected with and gathered young people passionate about volunteering to establish the club."

To date, the "Friends of the Poor - 73D1" Club has attracted over 50 volunteers from various professions. The club's main channel for soliciting support is through social media.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha, a member of the club, shared: “My fellow club members and I use Facebook and Zalo to post information and images about the group's activities as well as addresses of those in need of assistance. Thanks to this, benefactors can easily find information and choose appropriate ways to support us. In addition, we also organize sales of flowers, balloons, and collect recyclable materials… to raise funds for our activities.”

The "Friends of the Poor - 73D1" Club, in coordination with philanthropists, distributed porridge and milk to patients at Tuyen Hoa Regional General Hospital - Photo: XV

After 12 years of operation, the total value of goods and money connected and raised by the Club has reached tens of billions of VND, helping many poor families and unfortunate individuals. During the historic floods of 2020, the Club raised and connected over 1.5 billion VND, helping hundreds of families severely affected. Currently, the Club is connecting and sponsoring over 15 cases of particularly difficult circumstances with a monthly support of 500,000 VND.

Mr. Nguyen Tham (80 years old), residing in Dam Thuy 2 village, Tuyen Phu commune, said: “My family has four members, but we are all frequently seriously ill, and our house is also in disrepair. Fortunately, the “Friends of the Poor - 73D1” Club has called for support to help my family rebuild a new house, providing 500,000 VND per month, and regularly visiting, encouraging, and assisting with daily tasks.”

Joining hands in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, the "Friends of the Poor - 73D1" Club has donated thousands of protective clothing sets, gloves, and masks to the pandemic prevention and control forces and quarantined citizens; and provided hundreds of meals and drinks to people returning from epidemic areas. The club has also helped many disadvantaged people organize funerals, supported funeral expenses, and provided "free" transportation for patients and the deceased...

Pot of Compassionate Porridge

To share with impoverished patients, in 2015, the "Friends of the Poor - 73D1" Club collaborated with the Youth Union of Tuyen Hoa Regional General Hospital to organize the "Charity Porridge Pot" activity every Saturday.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, a member of the club, shared: “When we first started cooking porridge, we had to wake up early to go to the market to buy ingredients. Then, the members and benefactors divided up the tasks of preparing and distributing the porridge to patients and their families. It's not a big deal, but it has helped to alleviate some of the difficulties faced by poor patients.”

On average, each pot of porridge costs about 2.5 million VND, which is divided equally among approximately 150-200 patients and their family members receiving treatment at the hospital. In addition, the club also provides a box of milk for each patient.

Mr. Dinh Thanh Hai, a long-term patient at Tuyen Hoa Regional General Hospital, expressed: “During my hospital stay, every weekend morning, receiving a bowl of hot porridge from the ‘Friends of the Poor - 73D1’ Club warmed my heart. Thanks to these kind hearts, we are not alone on our journey to fight against illness.”

Nguyen Ngoc Quan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Tuyen Son commune and former Secretary of the Tuyen Hoa (old) District Youth Union, commented: “I highly appreciate the charitable activities that the “Friends of the Poor - 73D1” Club has been implementing. Programs such as: the 'Soup of Love' program, supporting poor patients, helping those in difficult circumstances… not only bring material value but also strongly spread love in society. Especially, the systematic organization, regular maintenance, and the participation of many Youth Union members and young people are commendable.”

The charitable porridge program has not only been maintained but is also growing, attracting numerous agencies, businesses, and individuals in the area to join hands and contribute, helping tens of thousands of patients. Currently, the charitable porridge fund still has over 50 million VND to sustain its operation in the future.

Ms. Ho Thi Hoai Thu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Dong Le Commune, who has participated in cooking and distributing porridge to patients, expressed: “Looking at the bowls of porridge handed directly to the patients, I clearly feel the simple joy reflected in their eyes. Some patients are in very difficult circumstances, struggling to pay for both treatment and meals. And that small bowl of porridge becomes a great source of encouragement, helping them feel warmer during their treatment days.”

Thanks to these efforts, the "Friends of the Poor - 73D1" Club and several of its members have received numerous certificates of merit and commendations from various levels of government, the Youth Union, and other organizations. In 2018, Mr. Ha Trong Sau, the Club's Chairman, was selected by the Vietnam Volunteer Community and the SJ Vietnam International Volunteer Organization as one of the 100 volunteer leaders who have made significant contributions to the community and society.

Xuan Vuong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202604/ban-cua-nguoi-ngheo-13e1735/