The kindness of the "Free Meal" meals.

Updated date: 01/04/2025 05:18:11

DTO - For over three years, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ward 4 (Cao Lanh City), in coordination with the Women's Union and the Red Cross of Ward 4, has maintained the "Zero-Cost Meal" model at the headquarters of the People's Committee of Hamlet 2, with the participation of more than 15 retired officials, members, and women in Ward 4. These compassionate meals from the "Zero-Cost Meal" model help people in difficult circumstances to have enough to eat while struggling to make a living, giving them more motivation and confidence to improve their lives.

Retired officials, members, and women from Ward 4, Cao Lanh City, participate in the "Zero-Cost Meal" model to support people in difficult circumstances.

The "Zero-Cost Meal" model was established in December 2022. To fund the cooking and distribution of meals to those in need, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ward 4 mobilized the Dong Thap Lottery Company, Cong Thi Lottery Ticket Agency (Cao Laanh City), and benefactors in Ho Chi Minh City to provide monthly support. Simultaneously, the Women's Union of Ward 4 was tasked with mobilizing retired officials, members, and women to participate. With a spirit of volunteerism for the community, members of the "Zero-Cost Meal" model cook meals twice a week.

As scheduled, at exactly 4:30 AM every Tuesday and Friday, members of the "Free Meal" program gather at the People's Committee office of Hamlet 2 to prepare meals to donate to lottery ticket vendors and laborers from poor and disadvantaged households. In the rather simple makeshift kitchen at the People's Committee headquarters of Hamlet 2, the members participating in the "Zero-Cost Meal" model are all busy, each with their own task: some washing rice and cooking, others peeling vegetables, washing meat and fish, etc. Ms. Nguyen Thi Bach Cuc (born in 1954), residing in Hamlet 1, Ward 4, Cao Laanh City, shared: "Every day, I wake up at 4 a.m. to exercise, then go to the People's Committee headquarters of Hamlet 2 with the other women to prepare meals. Although the cooking is hard work, I feel very happy and hope to have good health to continue participating in this charitable work to share some of the difficulties in life with lottery ticket vendors and poor and near-poor households in the ward."

In every step of the cooking process, the women meticulously and carefully ensure nutrition and food safety. The menu is carefully selected and regularly changed by the members, including dishes such as snakehead fish stewed with gourd, fried sea fish, stir-fried pork with shrimp paste, and soups with cucumber, bitter melon, and gourd. Notably, members participating in the "Zero-Cost Meal" model also contribute money to buy kitchen utensils or seasonings like sugar and MSG to cook more nutritious and delicious meals.

Ms. Huynh Hoa Phuong, Head of the Women's Association of Hamlet 2, Ward 4, Cao La Vinh City, said: “I have been involved with this model since its inception. To prepare thoroughly for the two weekly meal distributions, I and the members plan the menu and go to the market to buy ingredients the day before. Early the next morning, everyone gathers and cooks the rice and other dishes together, packing them into individual containers. At exactly 9 a.m., we deliver the hot meals to lottery ticket vendors and poor and near-poor households.”

People in difficult circumstances receive free meals at the "Zero-Cost Meal" model in Ward 4, Cao Lanh City.

Currently, the "Zero-Cost Meal" program provides free meals to lottery ticket vendors and poor and near-poor households in Ward 4 every Tuesday and Friday, with 140 meals per day, each worth 25,000 VND. Mr. Tran Van Hong (born in 1961), residing in Hamlet 3, Ward 4, Cao Lanh City, shared: "I work as a street lottery ticket vendor, earning about 150,000 VND per day. My income is meager, but I have to cover my family's living expenses, so I eat very frugally. Recently, receiving meals from the ward's 'Zero-Cost Meal' program has made me very grateful and warm-hearted. These free meals have helped alleviate some of the difficulties in my life."

Comrade Bui Kim Phung, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ward 4, Cao La Vinh City, said: “Although the meals are not of great monetary value, they represent the heartfelt generosity and practical sharing of the local government, retired officials, members, and women of Ward 4 towards those in need, thereby promoting the spirit of 'mutual support' in the community. In the future, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ward 4 will continue to mobilize resources from benefactors to maintain the 'Zero-Cost Meal' model to help lottery ticket vendors, poor and near-poor households in the ward alleviate difficulties in their lives.”

MY XUYEN

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/xa-hoi/nghia-tinh-nhung-suat-com-0-dong--130306.aspx