“A bowl of porridge of love” - warms the hearts of poor patients

(People's life) - The "Bowl of Gratitude" group in Tien Giang supports 250-300 breakfasts every day for patients and their families at Military Hospital 120.

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Guided by a guide, we followed Group 13, Hamlet 1, Dao Thanh Commune, My Tho City, through 2 bends of about 400m to reach the kitchen named "Bowl of Love Porridge". This is the place where, for nearly 6 years, every Wednesday and Friday morning, 250-300 breakfasts have been provided to patients and their families at Military Hospital 120.

The “Bowl of Gratitude Porridge” group belongs to the Association for the Support of the Disabled and Orphans of Vietnam and the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs in the South. Before joining the Association, the group was a group of women and children from Hamlet 1, Dao Thanh Commune, who contributed their efforts, money, and homegrown agricultural products to cook vegetarian meals for patients and their families at the back gate of Military Hospital 120.

A place that cooks breakfast for poor patients.

After operating spontaneously at the women’s homes for more than 2 years, the group has its own “property”, a level 4 house whose land was transferred by a member’s family at a preferential price. The money to build the house and buy kitchen utensils was contributed by the group. Under the sponsorship of the two associations, the group has been operating more and more systematically.

Heart for poor patients

As scheduled, before 4am every morning, the group members gather at a familiar location, and together do the silent work, filled with love. Each person has a job, some cook, some pack the food into boxes, some transport… to have warm meals, delivered to the patients at 6am.

To prepare for the food distribution, the team went to the market and prepared the food the previous afternoon. Whenever an organization or individual wanted to donate food, the women would clearly inform the cooking date so that they would not have to store the food for many days, which would reduce its quality.

Donating meals to patients at Military Hospital 120.

Chef Tran Thi Tuyet Mai, "with the motto of not leaving patients in difficult circumstances alone in the fight against disease, we cooperate with the Association for the Support of People with Disabilities and Orphans and the Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs in the Southern Region to organize cooking 'Meals of Love'. The free meals are not large but full of human affection, partly helping patients ease the burden of food and clothing".

Ms. Ngo Thi Nga shared that our group advised each other, arranged housework to come to the kitchen. To have delicious, nutritious meals, each meal is planned on a menu, processed with a process that ensures food hygiene and safety. Each person in our group has a different situation and living conditions. Many of us also worry about family work and personal life. However, with the thought of sharing difficulties with poor patients, the fire of kindness, the group has maintained the kitchen fire 2 days a week for nearly 6 years.

Warm breakfast portions

The general head chef is Ms. Tran Thi Tuyet Mai. At the age of over 60, Ms. Mai is still agile in her activities: planning the menu for the week, cooking, and calling people to help deliver food.

Named the “Bowl of Love Porridge” group, the kitchen cooks all kinds of breakfast dishes such as rice, noodles, porridge, bread, etc. The group has 12 official members who are granted cards by the Association for Supporting Families of Southern Martyrs, but the number of volunteer members has increased to 27. Each time, the group provides 250-300 meals that are rotated, including: porridge, rice, bread, noodles. Each meal costs 20-25 thousand VND.

Funding is provided by members themselves or by calling for and mobilizing from benefactors. Some sponsor cash, others contribute rice and food. All activities are transparent, including the mobilization, contributions and expenditures for these activities.

The women in Hamlet 1, Dao Thanh Commune, help with the preparation and cooking. The women “take advantage” of their young men, such as their children and grandchildren, to save costs.

Members of the Compassionate Porridge Team work from 4am. — Members of the "Bowl of Gratitude" Team work from 4am.

At exactly 6am, the meals were neatly packed. At the back gate of Military Hospital 120, there were many people waiting to receive them. The warm, nutritious meals were distributed in just 15-20 minutes and were gone.

Holding a hot meal in her hand, Ms. Le Thi My Linh, who takes care of a sick relative here, said that she is very grateful to the group, the philanthropists, and the volunteers who helped her have a delicious breakfast, helping her save money when caring for a sick person here for many days.

Caringly handing out hot lunch boxes to patients and their families, the members said: “We understand and sympathize with people who are sick and have to be hospitalized. Each meal is not worth much, but it has brought to the patients being treated here a huge emotional gift. It is above all a sharing, a source of spiritual encouragement, helping them to have more optimism, faith in life, and be more steadfast on the path of fighting the disease."

In 6 years of operation, more than 150 thousand breakfasts have been given away. These breakfasts do not only help with material value, sharing, and helping those in difficult circumstances, but also carry the traditional value of "the rich help the poor, mutual love" of our nation. In addition to cooking, the group also organizes charity programs to give gifts and cook for some places.

XUAN UYEN

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