Over four decades of kindling the flame of love.

Heartwarming meals shared with caregivers in An Giang province have contributed to spreading the spirit of compassion and affirming the spirit of mutual support and volunteerism in An Giang.

For over four decades, the Social Humanitarian Facility of the provincial hospital has shared heartwarming meals of porridge with those caring for patients.

For over 43 years, the An Giang Provincial Hospital's Social and Humanitarian Facility ( thuộc to the An Giang Provincial Red Cross Society), located in Long Xuyen ward, has become a compassionate haven for many people in need.

While the streets of Long Xuyen were still shrouded in mist and quiet, the kitchen of the establishment was ablaze with activity. The sounds of pots and pans clattered, and people prepared food to serve breakfast.

For over 43 years, this place has consistently provided three free meals a day to relatives caring for patients receiving treatment at An Giang General Hospital, An Giang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, An Giang Cardiovascular Hospital, and An Giang Eye-Ear-Nose-Throat-Dental Hospital.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Social Humanitarian Facility of the provincial hospital, the facility was established in 1983 and initially provided free hot water in containers for caregivers to drink.

The facility's kitchen serves three meals a day.

Over time, recognizing the added financial burden of food costs for many families during prolonged treatment, philanthropists have joined forces to establish a charitable kitchen model to support impoverished patients.

From its humble beginnings, the facility has now become a familiar humanitarian address, receiving support from numerous organizations and individuals both within and outside the province. Thousands of free meals, porridge, and drinks are delivered directly to patients every day, helping to alleviate the financial burden for many who are away from home caring for their sick.

Currently, the facility has 18 permanent members, assigned to various teams for logistics, meal distribution, etc. The youngest member is 38 years old, the oldest is 70 years old, and they all share a common joy in their volunteer work.

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Every day, the members arrive very early, busy with cooking. Around 4 a.m., hot porridge and boiling water are ready. Then, the members continue to prepare ingredients and cook lunch and dinner. The work continues from morning to night, but on each person's face there is always joy because they are sharing with the community.

Having been involved with the kitchen for nearly 40 years, Ms. Huynh Chi said that her greatest happiness is seeing patients and their caregivers receive hot meals and enjoy them. This joy motivates volunteers like Ms. Huynh Chi to overcome difficulties and continue supporting the sick.

Similarly, Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Hue, who has been involved in supporting the community kitchen for many years, considers this her purpose in life in her old age. For her, contributing to helping those in difficult circumstances is the most meaningful thing in her life.

Currently, the kitchen serves an average of over 1,500 free meals daily. Each meal is carefully prepared with four basic dishes, and the menu is regularly changed to ensure nutritional value for users. In addition, the facility also provides free hot water and drinking water every day.

In particular, the fire in the kitchen has never gone out for over four decades. Whether it's a regular day or a holiday, the members continue to operate it so that caregivers and patients don't have to worry about meals during treatment periods that fall on holidays or Tet (Lunar New Year).

While caring for a relative at An Giang General Hospital, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh said that thanks to the charitable kitchen, she has been able to significantly reduce her daily expenses, allowing her to focus on providing medicine for the patient.

Meanwhile, Mr. Le Van Tan, who is caring for a relative undergoing long-term treatment, shared that receiving free meals warmed his heart during this difficult time. This is also the common feeling of many caregivers when they come to the charitable kitchen.

The figures for 2025 demonstrate the effectiveness and significance of the model. Accordingly, the facility served over 489,800 free meals and over 482,000 liters of free hot water and drinking water to patients and their relatives at four major hospitals in Long Xuyen ward. At the same time, the facility also provided 135 free patient transfers using charitable ambulances, contributing to supporting people during their treatment.

The total value of free meals, porridge, drinks, and patient transportation services in 2025 reached over 6 billion VND. In addition, the facility also mobilized nearly 7.85 billion VND from social resources through cash and in-kind donations such as rice, vegetables, cooking oil, sugar, MSG, and many other essential items.

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The achievements not only reflect the effectiveness of the facility's operations but also demonstrate the strength of solidarity and mutual support within the community. This is the result of the joint efforts of all levels of government, organizations, philanthropists, and volunteers who have silently contributed over the years.

Through these simple acts, the humanitarian and social welfare facility of An Giang Provincial Hospital has been contributing to spreading positive human values ​​and enriching the tradition of compassion and solidarity in the homeland of President Ton Duc Thang.

TRAN THANH DUNG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/hon-bon-thap-ky-thap-lua-yeu-thuong-post971079.html