Together with assistance activities, Khanh Hoa Red Cross has just held a charity fair where 200 disadvantaged people can take what they need for free for the Lunar New Year celebration...
Together with assistance activities, Khanh Hoa Red Cross has just held a charity fair where 200 disadvantaged people can take what they need for free for the Lunar New Year celebration.
On the afternoon of January 27, the fair with 6 stalls opened at the provincial Red Cross, offering essential products such as sugar, seasoning, fish sauce, coffee, soft drinks, noodles, cooking oil and clothes. Families are offered shopping coupons to enter the fair to browse the items and get what they need for free.
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Choosing and putting basic necessities into a basket, Phan Thi Thu Cam, who is categorized as marginally poor in Phuoc Tan Ward, Nha Trang City, said, “there are 4 people in my family. One is mentally ill. The whole family depends on my elder sister’s rattan weaving. We are toiling away for a living but still can’t afford to buy anything for the Lunar New year. The necessities I get from the fair will be saved for Tet.”
73-year-old Vo Thi Gan, Vinh Phuong Commune, said, “I am poor, living alone in a temporary home built on my relative’s land. I am too old to work to earn money. Receiving necessary food and other things from the fair, I am so happy. I feel fulfilled this Tet as I have enough food during and after the holiday.”
In order to operate the fair effectively, reaching those in need, the Provincial Red Cross Association has coordinated with localities and agencies to make an eligibility list of the poor, the marginally poor, lonely old people, families in extremely difficult circumstances, Agent Orange victims, disadvantaged members of the Provincial Women's Union, the Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh Trail Traditional Association, the Association of the Blind, etc. Shopping coupons worth VND250,000 each are issued at the fair where needy families can take anything they need for free.
Implementing the Lunar New Year 2021 campaign "Tet for the poor and Agent Orange victims" launched by the Central Vietnam Red Cross Association, the provincial Red Cross has coordinated with agencies and units to organize the humanitarian fair to provide necessary food and items for disadvantaged people for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebration.
However, fund-raising challenges have been encountered due to the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic and the recent storm and flooding. There are not many items available at the fair for the needy. Therefore, the association will try to call for more sponsors to continue running the fair, providing more supplies for those in need in the following years, according to Le Van Hoa, Chairman of the Provincial Red Cross Association.
Apart from giving food to locals, the provincial Red Cross has also cooperated with the USAID to propagandize Covid-19 prevention and control guidance to shoppers at the fair. Each person is offered a bottle of hand sanitizer and medical face masks.
Besides the charity fair, the provincial Red Cross at all levels plans to mobilize donation to fund more than 40,000 gifts for the poor, lonely, vulnerable older people and Agent Orange victims with over 15,000 gifts already offered.
C.Dan
Translated by N.T
