Warm meals of love

The loving porridge is given directly to the sick.

Nhat Tam "Zero-dong Canteen" at 328 Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street, Hac Thanh Ward has long been a familiar address for many patients at the Provincial General Hospital, Mental Hospital and Thanh Hoa Obstetrics Hospital. With their love and affection, the volunteers have devoted their hearts and sent their love and affection through selecting ingredients and preparing a variety of daily dishes, such as fried spring rolls, vegetables, beans... to ensure nutrition and food safety. In particular, these dishes are vegan, all made from plant-based foods to bring delicious meals to patients.

Participating in volunteering since the early days of establishment, Ms. Bui Thi Phuong, Hac Thanh ward, shared: “Each person who comes to receive rice here has different circumstances, but they all have in common that life is still full of hardships and difficulties. Sympathizing with those difficulties, the volunteers here do not mind the hardship, getting up early to prepare all the work such as: going to the market, picking vegetables, cooking, dividing each meal... and everyone works with a sense of urgency and responsibility. I personally feel happy when doing meaningful work for poor patients”.

Receiving a meal from volunteers, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Thieu Quang commune, was moved to tears when talking about his family's situation. Mr. Hung is disabled and has recently suffered from lung and spinal degeneration, making it difficult for him to move around. Having to receive regular treatment at the provincial General Hospital and many other hospitals has made his family's already difficult financial situation even more difficult because of the large amount of money spent on medicine and living expenses. Without the means, Mr. Hung often goes to the cafeteria every day to receive charity meals.

“Although it is vegetarian, the food is very fresh and delicious. Each serving usually has 3 dishes with vegetable soup. Coming here, I personally feel the love of the volunteers who are thoughtful and attentive when distributing the rice. I thank the volunteers for their kind hearts,” said Mr. Hung.

Thanh Hoa's "Zero-VND Canteen" is the 19th canteen in the chain of canteens nationwide. Ms. Nguyen Thi Khuyen, Head of the "Zero-VND Canteen" management team in Thanh Hoa, said: "The canteen has been in operation since 2021, initially the operating costs were mainly based on the contributions of the founder and participating members. However, after a period of operation, it has received the response of many people, joining hands and contributing to spreading love. Currently, every day, volunteers have given 400 - 500 meals to patients in difficult circumstances at a number of hospitals in Hac Thanh ward.

Along with running the Thanh Hoa "Zero-dong Canteen", Ms. Nguyen Thi Khuyen also participates in many other volunteer activities. Over the years, she has always been a "bridge" connecting people to spread love and help patients in difficult circumstances. The activity "Tam Nhu Charity Porridge Pot" is one of such activities. Regularly on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, she and volunteers process milk cooked with grains and bring it to poor patients at some hospitals in Hac Thanh ward, such as: Oncology Hospital, Children's Hospital, Thanh Hoa Mental Hospital...

“Tam Nhu Charity Porridge Pot” has been in operation for 7 years and has always attracted the active participation of many people. Holding a bowl of porridge in her hand, Ms. Phung Thi Hue, Bim Son ward, emotionally said: "My family is very poor, my husband is mentally ill, I am in poor health, so life is extremely difficult. In this difficult situation, receiving a bowl of porridge of love, I, as well as the patients here, am very touched and always grateful for the hearts of the volunteers who always give love and help to those in unfortunate circumstances. This is a great source of motivation for me to continue my treatment".

With the belief that “The way you give is better than what you give”, with a compassionate heart in each person, just happily giving will spread love. Therefore, for many years, “Zero-dong Canteen”, “Tam Nhu Charity Porridge Pot” and many other charity groups in the province have not only provided warm meals with love but also created connections between people. Here, people find sharing, especially patients in difficult circumstances, helping them live more positively to rise up in life.

Article and photos: Trung Hieu

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nhung-suat-com-am-ap-yeu-thuong-258847.htm