Bringing green banh chung with love to the poor

Chung cakes carry a heavy meaning for the poor in Nam Sach town.Image:KIM ANH

Spring of love

As soon as the plan was made to organize the wrapping of green Chung cakes for the 2023 Tet Quy Mao, the Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Nam Sach town mobilized the Front Working Committee of Nhan Hung area and the people in the area to join hands to implement the program. The expected number of cakes is 700, the largest ever, so the preparation work was proactively done by volunteers early. The location for wrapping Chung cakes was held at the house of the Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of the town. Since December 20, 5 volunteers have come to prepare the first step of building a stove.

Despite being busy with many tasks in the days leading up to Tet, from 7am on the 23rd of December, Front cadres and many residents of Nhan Hung area enthusiastically participated in the green banh chung wrapping program. Each person had a part to play such as washing leaves, cooking beans, slicing meat, washing rice... Volunteers had to wrap the cakes until 9pm.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ban, Head of the Front Work Committee of Nhan Hung area shared: “Participating in the program of wrapping green Chung cakes to give to the poor, the women in the area are very excited, gathering in large numbers, with more than 10 people participating each day. We find this activity very meaningful, demonstrating the spirit of solidarity and mutual love. We hope that the poor and disadvantaged households will have a happier and warmer spring.”

According to the plan, 700 green Chung cakes will be presented by the district and town Front officials to poor households, those in especially difficult circumstances in the district and patients being treated at the district Medical Center. Over 5 Tet seasons (since Lunar New Year 2017), the green Chung cake wrapping program of the Nam Sach district Fatherland Front has contributed to bringing joy to many poor and disadvantaged households in the district. Many benefactors have shown interest and proactively supported the ingredients for making the cakes. This year, the program received 100 kg of yellow sticky rice from the nun Thich Nu Dieu An and Buddhists of Diem Phuc pagoda (Nam Hong commune), Ms. Vu Thi Lien in Hoang Hanh area donated 150 kg of pork, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung in Nhan Dao area (in the same Nam Sach town) donated all the dong leaves to wrap the cakes...

After several years of interruption due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year Cam Giang High School continues to organize "Spring of Love" for students with activities such as banh chung wrapping competitions, calligraphy, stalls... Mr. Ha Van Kien, Secretary of the school's Youth Union, said that the Youth Union bought rice, dong leaves, meat... to divide among the classes to wrap 5 banh chung for the competition. After scoring and awarding prizes, the school's Youth Union transferred 100 banh chung to the District Youth Union and the District Red Cross Society to give to the needy, and the remaining 60 banh chung to give to poor students in the school. "Because they were able to wrap banh chung themselves and use it for meaningful humanitarian activities, the students in the school responded very positively. Not only the students but also many parents participated in helping their children," said Mr. Kien.

Women in Hai Tan ward (Hai Duong city) wrap banh chung for the poor. Photo:PHUNG TUE

This year, Hai Duong Youth Union and Thien Nhan Tam Club wrapped 500 cakes using socialized funds and directly made by youth union members and club members. Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Chi, Secretary of Hai Duong Youth Union, said: "When Tet comes, everyone wants to reunite with their families, but there are people who cannot return home. To help them feel less lonely and feel warmer during Tet, we coordinated to organize this activity. More than 400 cakes were given to patients being treated at the Provincial General Hospital, the rest were given to the poor in Tan Hung Ward."

Happy

Receiving gifts, feeling the love, care and sharing of organizations, people in difficult circumstances were all moved. Mrs. Vu Thi Anh and her husband (in Mac Thi Buoi residential area, Nam Sach town) are in poor health, one child is in college, the other is a worker. Along with banh chung, Mrs. Anh also received a gift of candy, MSG... from benefactors. Mrs. Anh said: "I am very touched by the care of the town's Women's Union and benefactors. This gift helps my family have a warmer and more complete Tet."

Also receiving a gift from the Cam Giang High School Youth Union, Nguyen Thuy Duong (grade 12M) emotionally shared: "The gift has greatly encouraged me and my family. I thank the teachers and friends for their care and support, always accompanying me in my studies as well as in life."

The care and sharing of organizations and individuals for disadvantaged families will continue to be expanded in the following years, so that spring is truly a "Spring of love" for every family and every person.

THANH HA - KIM ANH