The joy of doing good deeds for those in their 80s.

A group of women in their 80s who cut medicinal herbs in Thot Not.

Every morning, as soon as the sun rises, the women in the group spontaneously gather at the charitable herbal medicine harvesting point on the Thot Not bypass, in Long Thanh 2 area, Thot Not ward, Can Tho city, to begin their day's work. The herbs are chopped into small pieces, dried, and used to make traditional medicine to donate to charitable clinics. Some chop the stems, others sort the leaves, and still others bundle and dry the herbs. The work may seem simple, but it requires perseverance, meticulousness, knowledge of medicinal herbs, and enduring health. Although everyone works for free, they are all enthusiastic from early morning until late afternoon.

The group currently has about 20 regular members, sometimes as many as 30 or 40, all of whom are elderly people who enjoy volunteering. These include Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phe and Mrs. Le Thi Dang, both 71 years old; Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoang, now over 74; and Mrs. To Thi Ninh, 72 years old… all of whom have been involved in this work since its early days.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phe said that initially, the group consisted of only a few acquaintances who shared the same desire to do something useful for society. When they learned about a place to harvest medicinal herbs to support charitable clinics, everyone pitched in. "It was hard work, but thinking about how we were producing medicinal herbs to help patients made everyone happy, so we never felt tired," Ms. Phe said.

The work of chopping medicinal herbs is not easy. Many types of plants have hard stems or thorns, making it easy to get pricked in the hands while chopping. Scratches, abrasions, and even bleeding are common occurrences. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang shared that there are days when her hands ache and her back is sore, but she misses it after a day off. "As long as we can still work, we can still help others. That's what motivates everyone to keep going," she said.

On average, the group provides about 200 bags of traditional medicine each month to charitable clinics in An Giang province and some neighboring areas of Can Tho city. This is a significant source of support for these charitable clinics. Ms. Le Thi Dang added that what keeps her committed to this work is not only the spirit of helping others, but also the joy of meeting and chatting with like-minded people. Ms. Dang said: "We've worked together for so long that we've become familiar with each other, treating each other like family. We chat while we work, and it's very enjoyable."

At over 70 years old, many people have chosen a life of rest with their children and grandchildren, but for the members of this group, each day spent chopping herbs and contributing to the community is a source of happiness. The image of elderly people diligently chopping each herb and gathering handfuls of leaves to help the sick is truly precious. It's about giving without expecting anything in return, about simple yet enduring values that silently spread. And perhaps, it is from these hands, marked by time, that not only are herbal remedies created, but also beautiful stories of compassion are born. Mrs. To Thi Ninh, a member of the group, thinks it's wonderful: "I'm old now, my children and grandchildren have all moved on, so I might as well do good deeds, accumulate merit for them, or simply exercise. Being able to do something useful in old age is precious."

These packets of traditional herbal medicine, carefully prepared by the elderly, are like "a dose of human kindness." Without reward or ostentation, these women demonstrate a pure spirit of volunteerism – simply wanting to give, not seeking recognition. This beautiful story reveals that the beauty of Can Tho, beyond its urban landscape or economic development, is also nurtured by the humble, quietly kind-hearted people of Can Tho.

Text and photos: DUY KHÔI

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/niem-vui-lam-viec-thien-cua-u80-a201014.html