Kitchen lights the fire of love

During a charity event, supporting rice for the zero-dong kitchen near the hospital, Ms. Hang saw the poor who came later without food and had to leave, which made her feel sorry. From then on, she decided to set up a vegetarian kitchen to serve patients and people in difficult circumstances for free. In 2022, with the help of the Red Cross of Rach Gia City (now Rach Gia Ward), Ms. Hang was given the opportunity to borrow the premises, along with the support of relatives and friends, Ms. Hang established the Thien Tam humanitarian kitchen.

Thien Tam humanitarian kitchen serves free meals to people at 51 Nguyen Van Troi Street. Photo: MI NI

Every week, the kitchen serves about 3,000 meals on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and distributes rice at 3 locations in Rach Gia ward, including: the main cooking and distribution point at 51 Nguyen Van Troi Street; C11 - 40 3/2 Street; and a fixed distribution point for poor patients at Kien Giang Oncology Hospital. Thanks to its spread, Ms. Hang's kitchen is known by more and more people, who contribute their efforts and money to "keep the fire" of the kitchen. "The kitchen has been maintained until now entirely based on the support of kind-hearted people, contributing rice, tubers, fruits, spices... The members of the group contribute whatever they have, joining hands to light the fire of love with the desire to share and reduce some of the difficulties for the poor," Ms. Hang shared.

Thien Tam Charity Kitchen has about 20 members, from 30 to over 70 years old. Depending on the amount of vegetables supported, the kitchen menu is regularly changed accordingly. Members start work at 4am, serving from 10:30am to 12pm, sometimes serving in the afternoon. Having participated in the kitchen for more than 2 years, Ms. Bui Thi Anh Hong, a resident of Rach Gia ward, expressed: "My house is nearby so I often come here to join hands with everyone from preparation, preliminary processing to cooking, serving... Now that I am old and weak, I hope the kitchen will remain at this location so that I can have the conditions to come and contribute to society."

Thanks to the generous meals, for more than 2 years now, Mr. Le Van Loc (67 years old), living in Rach Gia ward, has had many difficulties in life. Mr. Loc's family has 4 members, his wife and children have all passed away. He makes a living by selling lottery tickets alone, so life is difficult. "I am old, have many illnesses, and sell lottery tickets to make a living. Thanks to the charity kitchen that gives out free meals, I have been able to reduce some of my expenses and save money for treatment when I am sick. I hope the kitchen will be maintained to help those in difficult circumstances," said Mr. Loc.

In addition to serving free meals, Ms. Hang also mobilized friends and philanthropists to build a bridge, 12 houses, give gifts to the poor, give wheelchairs to the disabled, bicycles to poor students, rescue agricultural products for farmers... with a total cost of over 1 billion VND. In 2024, Ms. Hang mobilized emergency support for 67 poor patients, from 15 to 70 million VND/person depending on each case...

Thien Tam Charity Kitchen not only gives away meaningful meals but also lights up hope and becomes a support for those in difficult circumstances. Each meal or gift given away is a beautiful story in everyday life.

MINI

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/bep-an-thap-lua-nghia-tinh-a469214.html