Initiated in 2023, “Loving Meals” not only provides free meals but also spreads the spirit of charity, becoming a place to connect volunteer hearts. Each meal is not simply a meal, but also contains sharing and encouragement for patients who are fighting the disease every day.

More than a charity program, “Loving Meal” has become a spiritual support, a bridge connecting love between the community and the less fortunate. Over the past two years, the program has become a familiar meeting place every Saturday (at lane 9A Pham Van Bach, Cau Giay district, Hanoi ), bringing the warmth of humanity, adding strength to patients on the journey to regain their lives while being treated at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.

Lives are warmed

During the months in the hospital, Ms. Kieu Thi Thu Phuong (55 years old, Thach That, Hanoi) had to endure the pain, the long blood transfusions, the persistent application of medicinal compresses. But when she came to the program "Loving Meal", all that fatigue seemed to disappear.

No longer having constant worries or lingering pain, Ms. Phuong seemed to relax, blending into the bustling, warm atmosphere of the exchange: “Here, I can forget about my illness, forget about the tiring days. Even though I am undergoing treatment, I still want to come, not only for the heartwarming meals, but also for the truly precious moments.”

Ms. Phuong was diagnosed with thalassemia in 2013. A year later, her husband left the family. Since then, Ms. Phuong and her little daughter have relied on each other to survive. When her daughter was only 4 years old, the mother and daughter left their hometown for Hanoi, facing a long series of difficult days.

Every month, she has to be hospitalized twice for blood transfusions, each lasting nearly half a month. The cost for each treatment session is about 4-6 million VND, not including food and living expenses. Although insurance covers the hospital fees, the meals in the hospital are still a big burden for a woman who is no longer able to work. “Thanks to the “Loving Meals” program, patients like us have one less worry during the difficult days of treatment. Each meal we receive has helped us save a significant amount of money, so we can focus more on treatment,” she confided.

Currently, Ms. Phuong and her daughter are staying in a small house on the outskirts of Hanoi - a place she jokes that "it's called Hanoi but it's still very far away". That house is the only place for the mother and daughter to return to after long days of hardship in the hospital. When she went to the hospital, her little daughter was home alone, with only her grandmother - who is over 70 years old - occasionally coming to look after her. "She goes to school all day, and at noon, her grandmother comes over to cook rice. There were days when she was too tired to cook, so she made instant noodles to eat. At that time, I was still in treatment with persistent pain that didn't seem to end, and I couldn't take good care of my daughter," Ms. Phuong choked up.

Despite the hardships of life, Ms. Phuong has never felt alone. For her, the meals from the “Loving Meals” program are not just meals, but also a great source of encouragement. “Every time I receive a meal, I feel shared and empowered to fight the disease. Such support is very valuable, because it helps me feel more confident on this journey,” she said emotionally.

Ms. Hoai and her daughter were touched when receiving a warm meal filled with love from the program "Loving Meal".

Sharing the same situation as Ms. Phuong, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai (40 years old, Thanh Hoa ) could not hide her emotions when receiving a meal from the program "Loving Meal". She suffers from congenital hemolytic anemia, which causes her body to be constantly tired, her limbs are swollen and painful, and she has to undergo regular blood transfusions and iron excretion. Sometimes, the excruciating pain makes her unable to function normally, requiring help from relatives.

Hoai's family used to have a full life, but the terrible disease took away her health and the job she loved. She used to be a kindergarten teacher, attached to the laughter of children for many years. But then, her illness became more and more serious, the number of days off work was too much, making it impossible for her to stay in the profession. Last August, she was forced to quit, accepting to leave the classroom, leaving her unfinished dreams.

With no income, she and her children rely on the support of relatives. Her husband works as a factory worker, with an unstable income, just enough to take care of the two of them in the countryside. Therefore, the monthly medical expenses, from medicine, food to travel expenses, all become a heavy burden on the shoulders of a woman who is already in too much pain. She confided: “When I learned about the program "Loving Meals", I felt lighter. Warm meals help me and other patients to ease their worries and have more strength to treat their illnesses.”

She said that her life was difficult, poverty had made her children grow up faster than their age. Because of the difficult income, she and her husband had to split up to raise their children, the eldest son stayed with his father in the countryside, while the two younger ones stayed with Ms. Hoai. Understanding their mother's illness and the difficult circumstances of the family, the two younger children who lived with her learned to be independent early. The eldest child went with her mother to get rice every day, while the youngest, although only 8 years old, was also clumsy in doing housework, trying to share the burden with her mother. During the days she was hospitalized, the two children stayed at home to take care of each other, occasionally with the help of their grandparents and uncle. But no hand was as warm as a mother's, no love could replace the meals she cooked herself.

Holding the hot lunch box in her hand, Ms. Hoai was moved to tears: “I feel very happy and joyful. This is not only a meal, but also a sharing, a heart of strangers but warm with love. Receiving these meals, we feel we are not alone, we feel more motivated to fight the disease, to continue living for our loved ones.”

Patients and their families are given free meals at "Loving Meals".

Spread kindness

Understanding the difficulties that patients face, Dr. Truong Cao Luan, Director of Saigon Hanoi Dental Clinic, co-founder of the "Loving Meal" charity project shared: "We not only want to bring warm meals, but also hope to spread the spirit of solidarity, love and sharing. "Loving Meal" is not simply a charity program, but a second home, where people in difficult circumstances can find encouragement, comfort and faith in tomorrow".

Every weekend, Ms. Lam Thi Tho (52 years old, Ninh Binh ), one of the volunteers who has been with the program the longest, is always present at “Loving Meals” from 4 am to prepare food. She shared: “I come here with the mindset of supporting everyone and helping the sick. On Friday afternoons, the ingredients are bought by the group of collaborators and carefully prepared; in addition, there are contributions from benefactors, whoever has money contributes, whoever has strength contributes. Notably, there is never a shortage of food for the patients here, everything is prepared in the most thoughtful way!”  

Love is sent through small gifts at "Loving Meal".

Throughout its journey, “Loving Meals” has received the support of philanthropists, charitable organizations, artists and influential people. Meritorious Artist Phan Thu Lan, one of the people who have accompanied the program, shared: “When I came to “Loving Meals”, I really felt the warmth radiating from the people here. The meals were not only carefully prepared but also contained so much passion and love. Witnessing the scene of patients receiving meals with tearful eyes, I understood that this was not only a meal to fill their stomachs, but also a great encouragement, adding confidence for them to firmly step towards a brighter future. Thank you to the program for spreading positive values ​​to the community.”

When compassion continues, when volunteers silently share, even though the journey ahead is full of thorns, patients are not alone. "Loving Meals" not only bring warm meals, but also become a fire to warm the spirit, lighting up hope for those who are fighting the disease. Each meal is not only material support, but also a warm hug from the community, a source of encouragement for them to have more confidence in tomorrow.

After nearly 2 years of operation, “Loving Meals” has become a familiar address for many people in difficult circumstances in Hanoi. Each meal given is not only a “helping hand in hand”, but also a word of encouragement and hope for those in difficult circumstances, helping them have more motivation to believe in a brighter tomorrow. Thousands of meals have been given, countless hearts have been warmed and the smiles of patients and their families are the motto and purpose that “Loving Meals” always aims for.

Article and photos: MAI ANH

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-16/tinh-nguoi-tu-bua-com-yeu-thuong-831668