Early morning of November 26, when the sun had not yet risen, the volunteer group from Vinh Nghiem Pagoda ( Ho Chi Minh City) traveled more than 500 km to arrive at Tuy Hoa ward in time to set up a free kitchen for people in flooded areas.
The long journey did not seem to deter the monks, nuns, Buddhists and student volunteers. All carried with them a determination: to bring hot meals to the people after many days of rain and floods.
The resort becomes a large-scale field kitchen.
As soon as they arrived, the sounds of people calling each other, knives, cutting boards, pots and pans echoed bustlingly in the Stelia resort, which was used as a field kitchen. The banquet rooms were transformed into vegetable preparation areas; the hallways were filled with rice, food, and spices stacked almost shoulder-high. The urgent atmosphere created the operating rhythm of a “relief kitchen” with unprecedented capacity.
Every day, the kitchen cooks about 6,000 meals to send to deeply flooded areas. This is an activity carried out by the Social Charity Board, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Ho Chi Minh City in coordination with the Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa provinces and many units and volunteers.
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| The resort corridors became a constant food delivery hub. |
In the middle of the hot kitchen, Venerable Thich Thanh Phong, Vice President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Social Charity Committee of the Buddhist Sangha of Ho Chi Minh City, both urged the groups and directly divided the food into each lunch box. The Venerable said that this relief campaign mobilized monks and nuns from many provinces and cities, in coordination with the Fatherland Front forces of Ho Chi Minh City, Dak Lak, and Khanh Hoa .
“We currently maintain a kitchen in the east of Dak Lak; previously, two kitchens in Khanh Hoa operated continuously for five days. Each kitchen can cook more than 6,000 meals per day, depending on actual needs,” said Venerable Thich Thanh Phong.
Due to the lack of vegetables and other cooking materials in the flooded areas, all ingredients are transported from Ho Chi Minh City and the Co.opmart system in the provinces. The dishes are varied between vegetarian and non-vegetarian, prioritizing nutrition and food safety.
Community cooperation
Mr. Lai Ngoc Hung, General Manager of Stelia Resort, said that when he received the news that the group needed a place to set up a kitchen, he immediately agreed: “We will arrange the entire kitchen, provide equipment, tools and assign staff to support the group. We just hope to contribute a little bit so that people in the flood-affected areas can have a warm meal,” Mr. Hung said.
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| 6,000 meals are carefully prepared every day to be delivered to people in flood-affected areas. |
The resort corridors became a place where food was constantly transported. Some people stirred the pans, some divided the portions, some washed the vegetables… all coordinated smoothly. Every time a pickup truck started its engine and left the kitchen, hundreds more hot lunch boxes were brought to the wards of Dong Hoa, Phu Yen, Tuy Hoa, Binh Kien; the communes of Hoa Xuan, Phu Hoa 1, Phu Hoa 2, Tay Hoa, and the communes of Tuy An district (old).
Joining the group from Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Minh Hung, an employee of the Co.opmart system, confided that as soon as he saw the news and saw the scene of ruined houses, he immediately asked to join. "We stay up late and wake up early, cooking as fast as possible to send hot rice to the people in time," Mr. Hung said while carrying the rice boxes and closing the lids.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Thai, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Chairwoman of the Provincial Women's Union, said that on November 26, all meals from the charity kitchen were delivered to all three wards of Dong Hoa, Phu Yen, Tuy Hoa and Hoa Xuan commune. Today (November 27) and tomorrow (November 28), the meals of love will continue to be coordinated to bring to the flood-affected areas for people in need.
“This meal not only helps the people but also supports students, rescue forces, and units working after the flood. We are very touched by the beautiful gesture of the whole country towards the flood area in the East of the province in the past days. We sincerely thank you!”, Mrs. Thai said.
When the flood had just receded, mud was still everywhere, and the 6,000-burner-a-day stove seemed to keep the whole area warm. It was from these kind-hearted stoves that peace was gradually rekindled after the storm and flood.
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/thoi-su/202511/bep-lua-nghia-tinh-cung-cap-6000-suat-an-moi-ngay-cho-nguoi-dan-vung-lu-1920daa/
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