Barefoot farmers are full of charity

The guys poured concrete columns.

Busy mixing and pouring concrete

In the hot noon, I followed the asphalt road along Long Xuyen canal deep into the remote area. After passing through the heroic My Khanh commune for a few kilometers, we came across dozens of old farmers busily shoveling sand, rocks, and cement into a grinder to mix concrete, the rustling sound making the whole countryside bustling. Seeing them pouring concrete pillars, I thought they were making them for sale. When I asked how much each pillar cost, they smiled brightly: "These concrete pillars are all for the poor in Chau Thanh district to build solid houses, my friend!". It was surprising that in such a remote area, old farmers spent their efforts pouring solid concrete pillars and gave them away for free to the poor!

Each batch of concrete continued to be poured into the mold, the men quickly held the trowel, and rolled it evenly. Although they are farmers who make a living by farming and gardening, they are very familiar with concrete mixing formulas like professional construction workers. Stepping inside the house, we saw steel rolls, cutting machines, and concrete mixers there, like a miniature factory. The men said that this is the Chau Thanh District Charity Shelter Association, established in 2014. Every year, the association is mobilized by the locality, providing about 100 million VND in funding, to maintain the purchase of materials to pour concrete columns and give them to the poor.

Sitting on a stone bench to relax, Mr. Le Thanh Tai (Bay Tai, 78 years old, Vice President of the Association of Shelters of Love) chatted with us. Mr. Bay Tai said that since its establishment, the association has poured tens of thousands of concrete pillars and donated more than 3,000 sets of pillars to the poor. “In the first years of operation, the association donated a few hundred sets of concrete pillars. Now, the number of temporary houses in the district has gradually decreased, we are very happy!” - Mr. Bay Tai smiled brightly. Most of the volunteers who come here to do charity work are of elderly age. Although the work of shoveling sand and mixing mortar is hard, they still encourage each other to share the difficulties with the poor.

Up to now, the association has been operating for 11 years, maintaining a stable workforce of about 30 people, most of whom are in their 70s, some in their 80s also actively contributing to charity work. They are all farmers or members of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Executive Committee of Vinh Thanh commune. Recalling the early years of the association's establishment, Uncle Bay Tai said: "At that time, there were about 100 brothers and sisters in the commune and neighboring areas participating. Every time we launched a campaign to dig sand and mix mortar, a lot of brothers and sisters gathered! We had to mobilize local women to cook vegetarian meals on the spot. Each person did a part, so pouring several thousand concrete pillars each year was normal."

Do it with a pure heart

Mr. Le Huu It (69 years old) said that every time he heard about a family with a makeshift house, he and his colleagues discussed and considered giving it to the right person, the right household, not leaving anyone behind. They agreed that they had to consider it openly and objectively, then report to the district about the housing needs. When the district gave their opinion, the association would give the pillars to the poor household, to avoid comparisons between families. If the poor household did not have money to buy corrugated iron or materials, the locality and the association would mobilize benefactors to complete the house for the people.

For many years, determined to eliminate makeshift houses, the members have wholeheartedly supported human resources and mobilized funds to pour reserve concrete pillars. Thanks to that meaningful work, the number of makeshift houses in the district has gradually decreased. As proof of that, Mr. Truong Van Hung (68 years old) proudly said that the number of concrete pillars has now decreased a lot compared to before. Initially, the association poured about 100 concrete pillars each week, now it has decreased to 37 pillars/week. Seeing that the makeshift houses of the poor are being cared for and built solidly, the members of the association are happy. "To pour concrete pillars, we must choose good steel from Tien Bo Steel Factory (Binh Hoa Industrial Park), and mix sand, stone, and cement with good quality. Each house costs from 40 to 50 million VND, has a durability of about 20 years, and is very sturdy, so people will live here for a long time" - Mr. Hung expressed.

Although they are all old, they are still enthusiastic about charity. On days when they are not pouring concrete pillars, they roam around looking for "potholes" and "elephant holes" on the roads to patch up, ensuring safety for people participating in traffic. Uncle Bay Tai said, they raise money to buy asphalt to cook, then patch up everywhere. Whenever they hear of "potholes" or degraded roads, they bring asphalt to level them out, helping vehicles run smoothly. Not stopping there, they also take on the responsibility of transporting ambulances to transport patients locally. Every month, the ambulance operates continuously about 30 times, and the cost of gasoline is up to 4 million VND to cover the expenses for the people.

It can be said that free ambulance trips not only help many poor patients overcome the crisis, but also clearly demonstrate the spirit of mutual support in the community. “Currently, our biggest concern is the lack of money for transportation fuel, we need benefactors to join hands to help the poor in the countryside. Many times when patients ask to be transported to major hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, we have to ask for free gas at some familiar gas stations” - Uncle Bay Tai confided.

With the spirit of "Mutual love and support", the farmers are always enthusiastic with the locality to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses and do useful things for society, contributing to the development of their homeland.

LUU MY

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nong-dan-chan-dat-giau-long-thien-nguyen-a419468.html