'Loving Meal' brings the green color of youth

"Children wearing union uniform"

On Saturday morning, hearing the "tingling" sound of the phone announcing "this morning, cook rice for Tuyet's mother in hamlet 3 and Luu's father in Chua Thang hamlet", the group members prepared to go to the "gathering" place.

For the past 5 years, cooking rice for the elderly and the lonely has become a regular activity of the youth union members of Lien Thanh commune (Yen Thanh). Every time they cook rice, the group leader will notify via a group chat on the phone.

From early morning, in front of “Mother Tuyet’s” small garden, the “children” wearing green volunteer shirts were chattering, chatting, cleaning, and preparing food. The kitchen, built more than 50 years ago, was covered in moss and mold, old, and people going in and out had to bend over to avoid hitting the door.

Youth Union members of Lien Thanh commune prepare "Love Meal" in the kitchen of "Mother Tuyet". Photo: Hoai Thu

"Mother Tuyet" is 76 years old, standing at the door, smiling brightly, squinting her eyes as she watches her "children" cook and clean the house, smiling toothlessly and saying: "I have lived alone for more than half of my life, taking care of my brother who is a martyr. I have no children, and I suffer from a herniated disc and high blood pressure, so it is difficult for me to move around. I usually cook one meal a day to eat. Many days when I am tired, I lie down and do not want to eat or drink. Luckily, my children, members of the Youth Union, and young people often visit me, so I am less lonely."

Having said that, "Mother Tuyet" sat at the door looking at her children in green shirts happily laughing and playing in a corner of the yard, her eyes shining with joy. In the small, low kitchen corner, the members of the union were cooking and chatting. Cooking a family meal had become so familiar that everyone was quick and agile. Some washed vegetables, some cooked meat, fried spring rolls... The skillful Hang Nguyet decorated the dish with tomato flowers and lettuce for the fragrant fried spring rolls.

“Today, Mr. Thong contributed eggs from his chickens, and Mr. Vung contributed vegetables from his garden. When I went to the market to buy meat, the women there discounted it by half. Each meal for the mothers has enough salty dishes, vegetables, meat or fish worth about 150 thousand VND” - Hang Nguyet - Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union of Lien Thanh commune said while clearing the tray of food.

"Mother Tuyet" is happy because her children care for her. Photo: Hoai Thu

We wondered why Hang Nguyet called her group members "uncle"? The petite, agile girl immediately said that the "Loving Meal" model has been maintained by the Lien Thanh Commune Youth Union for 5 years, organized twice a month on weekends. All union members and young people in the commune participate. There are days when there are too many participants, we have to "divide the schedule". In Lien Thanh Commune, many brothers and sisters have families, their children are grown up, past the age of the Youth Union but still participate as secretaries of the Youth Union branches such as Mr. Nguyen Ba Thong, born in 1978, Secretary of the Youth Union Branch of Hamlet 3. Or like Mr. Thai Van Vung, born in 1987, Secretary of the Youth Union Branch of Hamlet 10... "Uncle Thong's child has just finished the Youth Union sympathy class, preparing to join the Youth Union and the two of them cook together for the fathers and mothers..." - Hang Nguyet added.

Having said that, Hang Nguyet brought a tray of hot, nutritious food and placed it on a small table in the main room of "Mother Tuyet's" house, which was a house of gratitude that benefactors and the government had called for to be built for her mother 3 years ago. In the middle of the house, there was a solemn altar for "Mother Tuyet's" brother, a martyr fighting against the Americans to save the country. The children in green shirts chattered around, while Nguyen Ba Thong scooped rice and handed it to Mother Tuyet while saying "please, Mom". Sitting next to the tray of food, Mrs. Tuyet quickly wiped away the tears that were about to well up, about to fall down her cheeks, which were dotted with the traces of time with freckles and crow's feet. The atmosphere was a bit heavy because of her mother's emotion.

The joy of "Mother Tuyet". Photo: Hoai Thu

Mrs. Tuyet's nephew standing behind quickly spoke up to dispel the silence: "Knowing that you're coming to cook today, "Mother Tuyet" bought beer to "snack on", let me bring it up, okay? Everyone was smiling and happy, the small house was bustling with voices and greetings...

Saying goodbye to “Mother Tuyet”, the children wearing the Youth Union uniform went to Chua Thang hamlet to continue cooking a meal for Mr. Nguyen Dang Luu. “In order to cook 2 meals for 2 people in time for lunch, from the beginning of the day, the group divided the group into 2 teams to do it in parallel” - Nguyen Hang Nguyet explained as she walked.

In Chua Thang hamlet, in an old house with mossy lime walls, spider webs have begun to grow in many corners. Mr. Nguyen Dang Luu is over 50 years old this year, has no wife or children, no job and shows signs of mental retardation so he cannot earn a living for himself. Previously, Mr. Luu lived with his blind mother. However, his mother passed away less than a week ago. Relatives and neighbors have pooled together to help with his mother's funeral. The worship of Mr. Luu's mother was entrusted to the local pagoda.

“Since his mother passed away, Mr. Luu often wandered around, and at night he came home alone in the house that was built more than 40 years ago. Neighbors who were sympathetic gave him some food and drinks. He was also not good at cooking, so sometimes he wandered around and went hungry, and relatives had to go looking for him,” said a member of the Chua Thang Hamlet Youth Union.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Luu looks forward to having his "children" cook a family meal. Photo: Hoai Thu

Ms. Truong Thi Tuong, a relative who calls Mr. Luu "grandchild", whose house is right next to his, shared that she usually goes to her son's house to look after her grandchildren. At mealtimes, her daughter-in-law brings food to Mr. Luu. "I am 84 years old this year, my children work far from home. I cannot cook for myself because of my bone and joint disease, so I have to rely on my daughter-in-law. I feel sorry for my grandson Luu who is alone, so my children often bring food up for him. But there are days when my children are too busy to bring food up. Luckily, thanks to the care of the members of the Youth Union and the youth, my grandson can have happy, hot meals like this" - Ms. Truong Thi Tuong expressed.

Sitting on a bamboo bed in the corner of the yard, a smile appeared on the man's haggard face as he watched his fellow union members and youths chopping tree branches and clearing bushes and weeds that had grown over a corner of the garden. Then he walked back and forth watching his "children" happily cooking and cleaning the house.

Spread kindness

On the anniversary of the founding of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26), the members of the Lien Thanh commune continued to cook "Loving Meals" for mothers Nguyen Thi Tham in hamlet 3 and Phan Thi Binh in hamlet 2. The anniversary of the youth, and also on the weekend, the number of members of the Lien Thanh commune "increased dramatically", many of whom were students of the school branches" - Deputy Secretary of the Lien Thanh commune Youth Union Nguyen Hang Nguyet "boasted".

Members participated in cooking and cleaning the house to help Mr. Luu. Photo: Hoai Thu

Accompanying the enthusiastic young people, Mr. Nguyen Ba Tan - Vice Chairman of Lien Thanh Commune People's Committee said: "The activity of cooking rice to give to the disadvantaged, vulnerable, and lonely on weekends has been maintained by the youth union members for 5 years. Except for the time affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, this activity has never been interrupted twice a month. This is an activity with great influence and recognized by the community. Therefore, the people of the commune always support the work of the young people...".

Living near the market in Lien Thanh commune, Ms. Phan Thi Loan said that every morning on the weekend, when the traders see the children wearing the Youth Union shirts going to the market, everyone knows that it is the day when the poor and disadvantaged families receive a delicious meal from the children. Therefore, the women selling fish, meat, spices, and salt "sell and give" and reserve the freshest food to support the meaningful activities of the children.

“We also use Facebook, so every weekend when the youth group cooks rice, everyone knows about it. We also get to see many photos and videos of the children cooking rice, which is very funny. All donations are made public and fully updated by the children. The women whose children and grandchildren participate in cooking rice are also excited and even donate more money because they see that the children's work is truly meaningful and full of human affection. At such a young age, the children are patient and persistent in doing the same thing for many years, and we, the people, are very proud,” Loan said.

Nguyen Hang Nguyet shared that although the cost of cooking each meal is not much, only about 150,000 - 200,000 VND, it is the effort and enthusiasm of each member. When participating in cooking, each member and youth contributes vegetables, eggs. Some contribute a few packets of salt, a bottle of fish sauce... Some people with better financial ability support money to buy pots and pans to help the group have the "tools" to cook better rice.

The “children in green shirts” also shared that, “gradually it becomes a habit, if we don’t participate in cooking, we feel something is missing, we miss the lonely men and women waiting…”. As for us, although we have only accompanied you for a short time in the series of years that you have persistently done this work, we have also felt the spirit of youth “wherever there is a need, there is youth, wherever there is difficulty, there is youth”, contributing to each less fortunate life happy smiles, multiplying in the community charitable deeds, sharing goodness./.