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| The group delivered these compassionate meals directly to patients and their caregivers. Photo: An Nhơn |
The "Sweet Hearts from the Heart" kitchen model is a collaborative effort between Pho Minh Pagoda and the Women's Union of Xuan Lap Ward. This is a successful community mobilization model that has been highly praised by the community and leaders at all levels.
Meals filled with warmth and love.
Every Sunday afternoon, the atmosphere at Pho Minh Pagoda becomes bustling. Sacks of rice, boxes of vegetables, fruits, and other necessities are neatly arranged in the kitchen area. Members of the "Sweet Hearts from the Heart" model carefully prepare the ingredients for the following day's charitable meal program.
Around 3 a.m. on Monday morning, the lights in the temple's kitchen were on. The nuns, Buddhist followers, and members of the Women's Union of Xuan Lap Ward quickly washed rice to cook, picked vegetables, peeled fruits and vegetables, cooked soup, and stir-fried dishes... All the tasks were carried out urgently and rhythmically, like a familiar cycle that has been going on for many years.
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| Members of the "Sweetness from the Heart" kitchen team wake up at 3 am to prepare over 1,000 meals. |
After many hours of hard work, at 7 am, all the basic food preparation was complete. Everyone divided the rice and food into portions and carefully packaged them. In addition to the main meal, each portion also included fruit for dessert. The steaming hot lunch boxes filled the long table in the kitchen, waiting to be loaded onto trucks to be delivered to those in need.
At 9 AM, the team began their journey to distribute meals to those in need. Their first stop was the Dong Nai Rubber General Hospital, where they distributed approximately 150 meals. Following that, they continued to distribute another 150 meals to homeless people, lottery ticket vendors, and others. The final destination was the Long Khanh Regional General Hospital, where they handed out another 800 meals directly to patients and their caregivers.
The meal distribution program ended at around 11:30 AM. By then, the team members were exhausted after many hours of staying up late, waking up early, and busily preparing and traveling, but joy shone on everyone's face. It was the joy of seeing the meals they had cooked being received with appreciation by the people.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuong (from Xuan Que commune) said: She has suffered from heart disease for many years. Previously, her family took her for treatment in Ho Chi Minh City, but the travel was expensive, so they requested a transfer back to Dong Nai. “Because of the long-term treatment, our family's finances are difficult. These meals are very valuable, helping to reduce our expenses. We hope there will be more practical programs like this to help those who are still facing many difficulties in life,” Ms. Tuong confided.
Practical application of the model of effective mass mobilization.
The originator of the "Sweet Hearts from the Heart" kitchen model is Venerable Nun Thich Nu Minh Tinh, abbess of Pho Minh Pagoda in Xuan Lap ward. For her, today's charitable kitchen began with a memory that will never fade.
In 2013, the mother of Venerable Thich Nu Minh Tinh fell seriously ill and had to be treated at a hospital in Dong Nai. At that time, the family faced many difficulties. During the days caring for her mother in the hospital, the young nun didn't fully understand the family's financial worries, but she vividly remembers the times they went to the hospital to ask for free meals. The meals were simple, sometimes vegetarian, sometimes non-vegetarian, but always filled with warmth and compassion, helping the family overcome their hardship. It was this act of sharing that instilled in her the desire to do similar meaningful things for others in the future.
After more than 3 years of operation, the "Sweetness from the Heart" kitchen model has provided approximately 100,000 meals to patients and their families in difficult circumstances receiving treatment at hospitals. In 2025 alone, the program served over 30,000 meals, with a total budget of 768 million VND. The charitable kitchen has truly become a lifeline for thousands of needy people.
After becoming a nun, the desire to establish a charitable kitchen remained a cherished dream of Venerable Nun Thich Nu Minh Tinh. Upon being appointed abbess of Pho Minh Pagoda, she shared her idea with Buddhist followers and local authorities. With their support, the model was established and officially began operating at the end of 2023. Initially, the kitchen only prepared simple porridge in modest quantities. However, the number of people seeking assistance increased steadily, while the pagoda's resources remained limited.
Undeterred by difficulties, the nuns and Buddhist followers of Pho Minh Pagoda shared the meaningful activities of their charity kitchen on social media. As a result, more and more people and philanthropists from near and far learned about and supported the initiative, some contributing money, others donating rice, vegetables, and other necessities. Each small contribution gradually built up a large resource. From the initial bowls of porridge, the charity kitchen expanded to cooking vegetarian meals in larger quantities, with a more diverse menu (stir-fried dishes, fried dishes, soup, and fruit for dessert…), ensuring adequate nutrition for the community.
Nun Thich Nu Minh Tinh said: "Each time we cook more than 1,000 portions of rice, it's a strenuous process. The members of the charity kitchen have to stay up late, wake up early, work continuously, and don't mind the sun or rain. The greatest joy is seeing people receive the meals with appreciation. Many people are very happy to receive the meals; they don't complain about the vegetarian food or the simple dishes... Seeing that, all the fatigue of the team members disappears, replaced by joy. That's also the motivation for us to continue maintaining the charity kitchen for the long term," the nun shared.
Not only nuns and Buddhist followers, but also many local people participate in the model. Each meal preparation session involves 10-20 women members from the ward helping in the kitchen. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Thu has been involved with the charity kitchen since its inception. As a retired teacher, she chooses to dedicate her remaining time to charitable work to help those in difficult circumstances. "Seeing patients undergoing long-term treatment and their families facing hardship, I feel even more strongly that my work is meaningful. Although it's only a small contribution, seeing the recipients happy makes me feel joyful," Ms. Thu confided.
Ms. Phan Thi Minh Hieu, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Xuan Lap Ward and Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Xuan Lap Ward, said: The "Sweetness from the Heart" kitchen model was established based on real-life situations and the need to support disadvantaged patients in hospitals in the area. Funding comes from the revenue of the "Nha Thien" flavored confectionery production facility (Pho Minh Pagoda). In addition, the program also calls upon and mobilizes Buddhists, women's union members, and other generous individuals… The collective efforts of the community have helped the model to develop and spread widely.
According to Ms. Hieu, the charitable kitchen not only provides material support but also instills confidence in patients during their treatment. For many who have to stay in the hospital for extended periods, each meal is a practical form of assistance, providing them with the motivation to overcome the difficulties of their illness, recover their health, and return home to their loved ones.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, where many are preoccupied with their own worries, there are still people who quietly wake up at 3 am to prepare free meals. These meals not only satisfy hunger but also warm the belief that kindness still exists in the simplest things in life.
An Nhon
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202605/bep-an-vi-ngot-tu-tam-a9c3f0b/
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