Spreading love through charitable meals.

More than just a meal, the charitable meals provided by volunteer groups and benefactors are also a way of sharing and encouraging those in difficult circumstances, giving them more faith in life.

Like many other free meals or charity kitchens, the charitable kitchen established by the Buddhist group "Thao Chay" (at 68 Dang Thanh Mai Street, Lien Chieu District) in 2023 has become a support system for disadvantaged workers, patients, and students. When they come here, they not only receive free meals but also feel the warmth of compassion. Sharing about this meaningful activity, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien (a member of the group) said that during a visit to the sick, she saw many patients from struggling families. "To help alleviate some of their burdens, we formed a charitable group to work together and cook free meals for patients in difficult circumstances," Ms. Lien said.

Each month, the group cooks 500 meals once, rotating the menu with dishes like soup, rice, and porridge, all vegetarian, and sends them to patients at the Oncology Hospital, Da Nang Hospital, Da Nang C Hospital, and Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. Although the value of each meal is not large, it is enough for the patients to feel the sharing and warmth. "My family is very poor, and we are fortunate to have the help of benefactors. Every time I receive a meal, I am moved and feel grateful," patient Pham Thi Nhan (Da Nang Hospital) shared emotionally.

Besides Buddhist volunteer groups, young people are now also forming volunteer teams to help the community. The Youth Volunteer Club, established in 2019, has organized 10 trips to distribute meals to street vendors and lottery ticket sellers throughout Da Nang. To date, the club has attracted over 150 members. Le Truong Hung Vi, the team leader of the Youth Volunteer Club, said: “I created this volunteer group because I witnessed many difficult situations of children who couldn't go to school and elderly people who were alone and had no one to care for them. From that, I thought I needed to do something to contribute to society and help young people have the opportunity to interact, learn, and do meaningful things.”

Despite facing financial and time constraints due to members of the Youth Volunteer Club being busy with work and school, the group, driven by love and responsibility, regularly collaborates with other local teams to ensure each charitable trip is effective.

PHAM PHUONG

Source: https://baodanang.vn/xa-hoi/202504/lan-toa-yeu-thuong-tu-nhung-bua-com-thien-nguyen-4004625/