Vietnam/ Free meals, a symbol of solidarity handed down from generation to generation

On an oppressively hot Sunday in April, volunteers from the Association des repas solidaires in the Thiên Truong district of Ninh Binh province were busy providing hot meals to patients in the early hours of the morning.

Motivated by a desire to share the hardships of impoverished patients, a number of organizations and individuals in the northern province of Ninh Binh have joined forces to prepare and offer free meals to patients and their families undergoing long-term treatment at the Nam Dinh Polyclinic, Thiên Truong district, Ninh Binh province.

On a blisteringly hot Sunday in April, volunteers from the Thiên Truong district's Meals in Solidarity Association were hard at work in the early hours of the morning. At the entrance to the hospital, tables and utensils are set up to welcome dozens of patients and companions, often from remote regions and facing difficult living conditions. They all wait their turn to receive a hot meal, a symbol of sharing and support.

Every week, around 400 carefully prepared, balanced portions, adapted to the needs of patients, are distributed. These meals, accompanied by kind words, provide not only material support, but also precious moral comfort.

Ngô Thi Dung, whose husband suffers from kidney disease, confided that these meals lighten the family's financial burden and give them more strength to continue treatment.

According to Nguyên Thi Tuyêt, founder of the initiative, this activity has been carried out without interruption for almost 15 years. The idea grew out of her personal experience, when she realized that many patients had to cut back on food to meet medical expenses. Since 2011, the program has grown steadily and now involves some sixty volunteers. Every Sunday, between fifteen and twenty people take part in the preparation, which begins as early as 4 a.m., in strict compliance with standards of hygiene and nutritional balance.

Among them is 67-year-old Nông Thi Tinh, who has been steadfastly involved for several years, finding in this activity a source of joy and a means of sharing with the most disadvantaged.

Over time, the initiative has spread to other health establishments in the region, while benefiting from the support of donors, local businesses and merchants. Since 2019, students from the "Green Flame" club at Nguyên Khuyên high school have been actively involved in these actions, helping to prepare and distribute meals, while also getting involved in other charitable activities.

These experiences enable young people to develop a spirit of solidarity, a sense of responsibility and discipline, while reinforcing their civic commitment.

Through these simple but meaningful meals, solidarity continues to spread within the community, helping to build a more humane society, one that is deeply attached to the values of sharing.

Source: lecourrier.vn/