A small corner of kindness in the hospital "street"

Women and mothers are busy preparing free lunches for patients and their families. Photo: Phuong Do

In the cafeteria, early in the morning, the women, mostly middle-aged, start a new day not for profit, but for charity. The hot vegetarian meals cooked every day not only warm the hearts of poor patients, but also warm the hearts of those who are tired in the midst of the journey to win life in the hospital.

Ms. Tran Thi Khuyen, Head of the Executive Board of “Nhat Tam 0 Dong Canteen”, said: “We maintain the 0 Dong canteen with only one purpose: to let poor patients and their relatives who are being treated at hospitals in the city have a decent, nutritious vegetarian meal, without having to worry about money while they are already struggling and worrying too much. Each meal is a little love, a little sharing so that everyone knows that, amidst illness and hardship, they are not alone”.

For nearly 5 years, this small kitchen has become a warm support for hundreds of poor patients and their relatives who are being treated at major hospitals in the city such as the Provincial General Hospital, Oncology Hospital... According to Ms. Khuyen, the canteen will distribute lunch from Monday to Friday every week, each day there are 400 - 500 meals brought to many hospitals in Thanh Hoa City. Each meal will include rice, soup and 3 vegetarian dishes, the menu is also changed daily and announced to the community group "0 Dong Canteen, Branch 19 of Nhat Tam Thanh Hoa" so that those who need it will know to come and get the rice.

In particular, the “chefs” of this charity kitchen are all elderly women and mothers, full of determination and love. They come to work at the canteen without any remuneration, but simply because of a charitable heart - “cooking to share, to love”. Therefore, the meals are carefully prepared, ensuring nutrition and always being light vegetarian food, both light and easy to digest, expressing the spirit of humanity and tolerance.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tham (Thieu Hoa), a patient's relative, shared: "Thanks to the zero-dong canteen, every lunch we can save 20,000 - 30,000 VND on buying food outside. This amount of money is precious to poor people. Moreover, the food at the canteen is very delicious. My mother is seriously ill and cannot eat much, but she always finishes the food at the canteen."

Amidst the chaos, worries and harshness of illness, the zero-dong kitchen on Hai Thuong Lan Ong street still quietly fires up every day - as a testament to compassion and sharing.

Phuong Do

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/mot-goc-nho-tu-te-o-pho-benh-vien-245794.htm