Warming the heart of the green shirt kitchen in Ho Chi Minh City taking care of workers in difficult circumstances

For the past 2 years, the green shirt kitchen of youth union members and militia forces in Chanh Hung ward (HCMC) has been diligently maintaining meals and meaningful gifts for workers in difficult circumstances in the area.

One day in March, alley 43B Da Nam street (Khu pho 17, Chanh Hung ward) suddenly became busier than usual. Holding a hot meal and a small bag of rice, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong (58 years old) could not hide her radiant smile. Ms. Hong earns a living by selling lottery tickets, and is also tightening her belts to raise her sick child.

Hearing the announcement from the neighborhood, I stopped by to receive vermicelli and rice to save as much as I could. These gifts are very precious, helping to ease the burden for workers in difficult circumstances like me," Ms. Hong emotionally shared.

Sharing the joy, Mr. Tran Hai (59 years old, Chanh Hung ward) said that his family has been a "familiar" of the green kitchen for many years. For poor workers in Chanh Hung ward, the green kitchen is not just a meal, but also a practical sharing amidst the busyness of making a living.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Nam - Secretary of the Youth Union of Quarter 17, Chanh Hung Ward - said that the program organized by the Ward Youth Union has been maintained for 2 years. On average, each time, the kitchen will be on fire to prepare from 200 to 500 meals such as sticky rice, wet cakes, stir-fried vermicelli...

To have thoughtful meals, volunteers have to prepare from the previous day. Some pick vegetables, some pre-process ingredients, some stand on the kitchen to stir-fry... although hard, everyone is enthusiastic. "Looking at the gifts reaching the people's hands, we are a little tired but feel very happy. Although the gift is small, it encapsulates love, enough to warm the hearts of the people in the ward," Mr. Nam confided.

It is known that this model has been persistently implemented by Mr. Nam and militia forces, union members of neighborhoods from when he was still under the administrative unit before until now. Besides the green shirt kitchen, the Youth Union of Chanh Hung ward also organizes a 0-dong booth, giving vegetables and fruits and free haircuts to people.

Accompanying the program, Senior Lieutenant Vuong Quoc Thinh (officer of Phu Dinh Ward Police) said that after hearing about the idea of supporting people, he participated in supporting Chanh Hung Ward from the early days.

The joint efforts of the armed forces and youth volunteers have helped the model spread more and more, becoming a loving support for people with many difficult lives in Ho Chi Minh City.

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