The quiet journey of philanthropy of Ms. Mai Huong

In modern life, amidst the hustle and bustle of making a living, there are still people who choose to live simply and quietly, yet leave a profound mark of compassion. Ms. Dinh Thi Mai Huong in Hai Duong ward is one such person.

During her seven-year journey of volunteering, Ms. Dinh Thi Mai Huong has encountered many people facing hardship. For her, giving makes life more meaningful.

From a heart that knows how to share…

Ms. Dinh Thi Mai Huong, born in 1983, and her husband, Mr. Tieu Tuan Hung, work at the Dai Viet Bailiff Office (Le Thanh Nghi Ward). Due to the nature of their work, they frequently travel to many provinces and cities, most often to Lao Cai and Gia Lai .

It was from those business trips that the story of Ms. Huong's compassion began. Each trip, witnessing the sight of children shivering in thin clothes in Lao Cai , or elderly ethnic minorities in difficult circumstances in Gia Lai, motivated Ms. Huong to take action.

Initially, she only sent used clothes through charitable groups. However, she often wondered if the items she sent would actually reach the poor, if they would be given to them with genuine compassion. This concern led her to decide to take action instead of just sending donations.

So, together with her husband and children, she went around the community asking for clothes, sometimes transporting them by bus, other times wrapping them tightly in bags and storing them in the trunk of her family's car, then traveling long distances to remote villages to deliver each set of clothes and each warm blanket to those in need.

From the beginning, she considered volunteering a family endeavor. Even though her children were young, she taught them how to sort clothes, pack them neatly into bags, and, more importantly, how to save their pocket money to contribute to each trip. “My children contribute a few tens of thousands of dong each month, sometimes even a hundred thousand. It’s not a large sum, but they understand that they are also contributing to helping the poor. I want my children to understand that giving is happiness,” she shared.

This mother, born in the 1980s, believes that parents can give their children knowledge and money, but what's equally important is giving them a kind heart. "When my children grow up, I believe they will live decent lives and know how to love everyone," she said.

In the early days, she called on friends and colleagues to contribute clothes and warm blankets, which only amounted to a few small sacks. Gradually, people gained more trust, and the quantity increased. It was the support of the community that gave her the motivation to continue her journey.

…to journeys of sowing seeds of love

Whenever she and her husband go on business trips, Ms. Dinh Thi Mai Huong makes sure to "fill her car" with clothes and books to deliver to the poor.

Seven years isn't a very long time, but it's been enough for Ms. Huong to leave her mark in many remote villages. She vividly remembers the time she donated clothes in Y Ti, Lao Cai. The children rushed out, their eyes shining when they received the thick jackets. Some hugged the jackets tightly to their chests as if afraid they would be taken away.

In Gia Lai, she met many elderly Jrai and Bahnar people who were moved to tears upon receiving new blankets. "They kept holding my hand, speaking in their ethnic language, which I didn't fully understand, but I could feel their gratitude," she recounted.

Besides distributing clothes, she also brings books and pens for the students. Sometimes, the children's savings are used to buy dozens of new backpacks. "Seeing the children happily carrying their backpacks to school makes me so happy. Those moments give me the motivation to keep going," she shared.

To save money, her family chose to live more simply, buying less, limiting unnecessary expenses, and saving up to organize trips. "My family isn't rich, we're just ordinary laborers, but I think you don't need to wait until you're rich to do charity. As long as you have a kind heart and know how to save, anyone can give," she said.

She also called on friends and neighbors to lend a hand. Some donated clothes, others helped with transportation. Gradually, she became a "key figure," connecting those with generous hearts to the right places in need.

"What's admirable about Ms. Huong is her perseverance. She doesn't just get excited once and then give up; she does it year after year, consistently. The way she teaches her children to participate is also very commendable, as it's a way of sowing seeds of kindness in the younger generation," commented a local women's association official.

When asked about her greatest wish when doing volunteer work, Ms. Huong simply replied that she only hopes her children will grow up with hearts that know how to love and share. "I also hope that many others, even just once, will try giving, to see life become more meaningful," she said.

The kindness that Ms. Dinh Thi Mai Huong sowed will remain forever. Her quiet journey of volunteerism not only brought joy to those in need but also sowed seeds of love in the children and the community.

HA KIEN

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/hanh-trinh-thien-nguyen-tham-lang-cua-chi-mai-huong-520230.html