“Zero-VND Meal” – Spreading love

As a tradition, every Sunday afternoon, the small kitchen of the Van Tam volunteer group is bustling. Starting at 2 p.m., members are present, each with a task, some washing rice, some washing vegetables, some lighting the stove, some cooking to prepare meals for patients at the Provincial General Hospital. The bustling sounds of kitchen utensils blend with the cheerful voices and laughter.

The head chef of the Van Tam volunteer group prepares free meals for poor patients.

The quality of each meal is always put first, all ingredients are carefully selected and processed, ensuring food hygiene and safety. Each dish contains the feelings of the volunteer group members, ensuring deliciousness, adequate nutrition and hygiene. All food samples are kept according to regulations, demonstrating thoughtfulness and professionalism even though the kitchen is completely free.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, Van Tam volunteer group, shared: We do charity with all our heart and responsibility. The menu changes regularly, ensuring it suits the taste and is nutritious enough for patients. Anyone who wants to support can contribute rice, vegetables, cooking oil... as long as it ensures food hygiene and safety and has a clear origin. Each meal costs about 35,000 VND, including a main dish, vegetables, and soup.

The Provincial General Hospital currently has 550 beds, many of whom are long-term patients and have difficult family circumstances. Therefore, the “zero-dong meals” are a practical activity, meaningful and a source of spiritual encouragement for patients and their families in difficult circumstances who are being treated here.

Members of the Van Tam volunteer group prepare free meals for patients in difficult circumstances.

Holding the lunch box in her hand, Ms. Lo Thi Hang, from Tong Co commune, Thuan Chau district, emotionally said: My 7-year-old child has severe ear infection and is currently in the ENT Department. We are poor, so all the money is spent on my child's treatment. Receiving the free meal warms my heart. My family thanks the volunteer group.

"Free meals" by Van Tam volunteer group at Son La Provincial General Hospital.

Sharing the same sentiment, Ms. Chao Thi Xinh, 63 years old, in Chieng Khay, Quynh Nhai district, confided: The meals here are delicious, clean and hot. The volunteers are very attentive, always asking about me and encouraging me to get well soon.

Members of the Van Tam volunteer group give free meals to disadvantaged patients.

"Free Meal" was established by the Van Tam volunteer group in 2020. Initially, there were only a few people with the same idea of cooking for the poor. Now, there are 15 regular members. They are people living in Son La city and some districts in the province. Every Sunday at 5:00 p.m., the group regularly organizes the distribution of 150-200 free meals to patients in difficult circumstances being treated at the Provincial General Hospital. In addition, on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month, the group also prepares 200 kg of vegetarian rice rolls, divided into 500 portions, to give to patients. The total value of the program is more than 30 million VND per month.

Members of the Van Tam volunteer group give free meals to disadvantaged patients at the hospital.

Mr. Ha Van Gung, Head of Van Tam Volunteer Group, shared: We understand the hardships of poor patients undergoing long-term treatment. Although the meals are small, they are a way for us to share some of the burden with them. To spread more widely, we use social networks such as Facebook and Zalo to share information about our activities and call for contributions from the community. Thanks to that, more and more people know about "Zero-VND Meals" and voluntarily join hands to contribute.

Van Tam volunteer group gives out free vegetarian rice rolls to patients on the 1st and 15th of every lunar month.

Along with the “zero-dong meals”, Van Tam volunteers also give gifts to the poor, give books and warm clothes to students in mountainous areas, give gifts to children at hospitals, give out cakes at the Social Protection Center, Provincial Mental Hospital, Rehabilitation Hospital, support families after natural disasters, cook for lonely elderly people, mental patients, people with disabilities, etc.

Although the meals of the Van Tam volunteer group are small, they contain sincere feelings between people, and are a bridge between kind hearts and each unfortunate life.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/xa-hoi/suat-com-0-dong-lan-toa-yeu-thuong-zEuJ1vfNg.html