People keep the fire burning for porridge portions
Mr. Nguyen Duy Ha (Dong Anh commune, Hanoi) - Member of Thien Tam Club - is simultaneously responsible for two volunteer tasks: cooking portions of free porridge and running free trips to support patients to overcome the arduous journey of the treatment journey.
Every Tuesday morning, regardless of whether it is sunny or rainy, Mr. Ha travels 17km from Dong Anh commune to the Trung Uong Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion to distribute free porridge to patients.
"If we cook rice, we will need more people, one person after another will talk to each other more happily. Cooking porridge is fine, just one person is fine, every week, I prepare and do everything by myself' ' ' '' Mr. Ha excitedly said.
Mr. Ha shared that since he was a child, he had hoped to be able to help those in need.
Up to now, I am very happy to have helped some people in need of support, Mr. Ha expressed.
Ms. Pham Huong - a caregiver at the Department of Pediatrics, Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion - shared her feelings when receiving the portions: "The cost of being hospitalized is quite expensive, being supported with free meals is extremely meaningful to me. I am very happy and thank the benefactors for their help''.
Cozy bus trip takes patients through a difficult journey
In addition to giving free porridge to patients, Mr. Ha also runs unofficial trips to support patients who are not qualified to pay for travel expenses.
"There are trips 300 - 400km long, costing up to 10 - 15 million VND, this is too big a number for families in difficult circumstances," Mr. Ha shared.
Unmanned trips will not be scheduled. The phone can ring at any time: early morning, sunny afternoon or late at night. Usually, the hospital's Social Work Department will call for support, but most trips are proactively contacted by patients' relatives.
"There was a day when I was cooking a pot of porridge when the phone rang. It's a pity that I can't leave the kitchen without going. Many times, I have to ask someone else to look after the kitchen for a few hours to catch an emergency bus trip'', Mr. Ha recalled.
Mr. Ha shared that he will help everyone until he is no longer strong enough.
As long as there are people in need, I am always ready to help with all my ability, as a promise I made to myself, said Mr. Ha.
All portions without change will be sold out. All free trips will reach the destination. Only the kitchen is lit up every morning, and the car still rolls with the persistent kindness of a person who chooses to stay with the kindness between the very normal things of life.
