80-year-old man spends his salary buying rice to give to the poor on Tet holiday

(Baonghean.vn) - In recent years, poor families in Binh Ngo hamlet, Thanh Giang commune (Thanh Chuong, Nghe An) have been able to celebrate Tet in a warm atmosphere, because they not only receive the attention of the Party and State, but also the sharing and help of Mr. Nguyen Van Than - a veteran in the same hamlet.

Mr. Than is a 4/4 class disabled veteran, retired since 1984. Living in his homeland with the understanding heart of an experienced person, from 2010 until now, for 7 consecutive years, every traditional Tet holiday, he has spent 1 month's salary to help poor families in the neighborhood.

Mr. Nguyen Van Than checks the products before giving them to poor households. Photo: Huy Thu.

Through research, it is known that on December 25th every year, at the hamlet hall, he often coordinates with the hamlet Front Committee to organize gift giving to households. The number of households receiving gifts each year fluctuates from 10 to 16 households. On this occasion of Dinh Dau Tet, he gave 11 gifts to poor households, each gift includes 10 kg of rice, 10 kg of sticky rice, worth more than 300 thousand VND.

Mr. Than currently lives in a small wooden house in the middle of the village. His wife passed away 10 years ago. His four children are grown up, all doing well. Talking about his charity work, he said: “Participating in contributing to society, now retired, receiving treatment from the State, so my life is quite stable. Around the neighborhood, there are still many families in difficulty, I can't help much, each year I only save my monthly salary to share and encourage them, hoping that all families in the neighborhood will have a warmer Tet. As long as I live, I will continue to do this work.”

Veteran Nguyen Van Than gives rice to Nguyen Thi Ty's family on the occasion of the Dinh Dau Lunar New Year. Photo: Huy Thu.

In addition to helping the poor, he was also active in collective movements, contributing, supporting, building martyrs' cemeteries, Veterans' Association funds, Elderly Association funds, etc. He had many times been to the district to report on studying and following Ho Chi Minh's moral example. For him, the older he got, the higher his spirit became, as in the poem he wrote: "50 years of Party life this autumn / Wholeheartedly following the Party without changing anything / The revolutionary path is firmly walked / Closing eyes and dying, then it's over".

Mr. Than's actions are practical, demonstrating the spirit of "mutual love", sharing and mutual support in the village and neighborhood relationship. Mr. Phan Van Lung - Head of Binh Ngo hamlet, affirmed: "Mr. Than is a party member - war invalid - retired, over the years has made many contributions to the community as well as charity activities. Giving gifts to poor households in the hamlet during Tet is an act that comes from his pure and sincere heart - a noble gesture, welcomed and respected by local people".

Huy Thu