At the conference to honor and commend outstanding sponsors to celebrate the 78th anniversary of the Vietnam Red Cross Society in Vinh Long province at the end of November, many businesses and individuals were honored and commended for their special attention to volunteer work in the area.
In particular, the story of Mr. Huynh Huu Hoai - also known as Mr. Sau Hoai (70 years old, Mang Thit district, Vinh Long province) restoring more than 230 old wheelchairs to give to people in need has moved many people and expressed their appreciation.
According to Mr. Hoai, since 2020, he has started his volunteer journey through free hospital transfers for poor patients. Every day, he witnesses many patients who cannot walk, but do not have money to buy wheelchairs.
With the desire to share difficulties with poor patients and disabled people, Mr. Hoai went to scrap yards, bought old wheelchairs and components, repaired them himself and gave them to people in need.
Initially, because he was not a skilled mechanic, Mr. Hoai had many difficulties in finding used cars, spare parts and effective ways to repair cars. Over time, Mr. Hoai learned the trade and became proficient in repairing old wheelchairs.
“Some cars have damaged seats, so I have to reupholster the seats, add new cushions, and cover them with new leather. Some cars have to have their tires, rims, frames, wheels, etc. replaced. After restoring the wheelchair, I have to check it carefully to make sure it is safe before giving it away,” Mr. Hoai shared.
In particular, every time the car restoration is completed, Mr. Hoai personally delivers it to the homes of patients and the disabled. The difficult circumstances that Mr. Hoai donates cars to are not only in Vinh Long province, but also in many other provinces in the West such as Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, etc.
Mr. Hoai carefully recorded the information of the people who received the wheelchairs in his diary, including the recipient's name, time, address, number of wheelchairs, etc. From 2022 to present, Mr. Hoai has repaired and donated more than 230 old wheelchairs to people in need, helping many poor and unfortunate people in the community.
As one of the people who received a wheelchair from Mr. Hoai, Mr. Huynh Men (65 years old, Mang Thit district, Vinh Long province) emotionally said: "I am sick, my health is exhausted, it is very difficult to move around but I don't have money to buy a wheelchair. Luckily, thanks to Mr. Hoai's help and gift of a wheelchair, I can move around more easily."
Upon learning of Mr. Hoai’s meaningful work, many scrap yard owners sold wheelchairs at low prices, or chose quality ones to donate. At the same time, many benefactors also joined hands to support the source of vehicles or funds to buy used vehicles, helping him maintain his volunteer work.
According to Mr. Luu Van Xua - Chairman of Mang Thit District Red Cross Society (Vinh Long Province), Mr. Hoai is an active member accompanying Mang Thit District Red Cross Society in many charity works. Particularly, Mr. Hoai's work of repairing and donating wheelchairs to poor patients has helped spread a beautiful lifestyle, good deeds, demonstrating the spirit of helping each other in the area.
