Multiply the spirit of mutual affection and love...

(Baonghean) - In Thai Hoa town, when talking about humanitarian and charitable activities, people often mention the Red Cross organization. This is because this organization has many good methods and achieves practical results, thereby fostering mutual support and compassion in the community...

Although they have overcome difficult circumstances for some time, the family of Mr. Le Van Hoa and Ms. Luong Thi Dam (Trung Nghia Hamlet, Quang Tien Ward, Thai Hoa Town) still vividly remembers the times they received help from the Red Cross of the ward and town. In 2009, Mr. Hoa fell ill and had to have his spleen removed; in 2012, he suffered from degenerative bone disease and fractured his radius. Ms. Dam is a farmer, and her children are still in school, so when her husband became ill, their situation became extremely dire. During this seemingly insurmountable period, she received support and assistance from neighbors and, especially, the Red Cross of the ward and town. Ms. Luong Thi Dam said: "With his condition, I should have taken Mr. Hoa to Hanoi for treatment, but due to financial difficulties, we had to treat him at home. Thanks to the care and assistance of the Red Cross officials, our family has been given renewed strength to overcome our circumstances. My two children, understanding their parents' hardships and grateful for the support and assistance from the community and the Red Cross, study hard, work diligently, and save money to help the family. I am truly grateful for everything the Red Cross has done..."

Presenting gifts to impoverished patients at the Northwest Regional General Hospital.

Quang Tien Ward has many families in similar circumstances who have received assistance from the Red Cross. According to Ms. Truong Thi Thuy, President of the Quang Tien Ward Red Cross, in 2014 alone, the association mobilized 18 units of blood for voluntary donations; raised over 23,000,000 VND to support Truong Sa; over 25,000,000 VND for Tet for the Poor; over 29,000,000 VND for the Compassion Fund... and used the funds in accordance with the tradition of compassion, "helping those in need," and "loving others as oneself." During the year, they organized visits and presented 241 gifts to families in difficult circumstances; provided relief to two children suffering from serious illnesses totaling nearly 15,000,000 VND; and visited 29 sick members with over 12,600,000 VND. Helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds with an amount exceeding 14,000,000 VND...

While Quang Tien ward stands out as a unit with many charitable activities aimed at helping those in difficult circumstances, at the Northwest Regional General Hospital, the "Bowl of Compassion" program, organized and maintained by the town's Red Cross Society, the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Association, and the hospital, has proven truly effective in assisting poor patients. The origin of this charitable activity stems from Mr. Le Tien Kham, Chairman of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Association of the town. Around the end of 2008, Mr. Kham visited a family member being treated at the hospital and saw an elderly woman collapse after receiving an antibiotic injection. Upon inquiry, he learned that due to extreme poverty, the woman lacked money for breakfast and therefore had no strength for the high-dose antibiotic. Haunted by this story, Mr. Kham shared the experience and expressed his intention to help poor patients to several business leaders in the association, raising 16,000,000 VND. With the money, he approached the Red Cross Society of the town, and then, together with Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam - the Standing Vice President of the Society, went to the Northwest Regional General Hospital to meet Dr. Le Dinh Van (the hospital director at that time). The "Bowl of Compassion" plan for poor patients was drawn up and implemented. According to Dr. Tran Minh Khong - Chairman of the Red Cross Society of the hospital, over more than 6 years of operation, the "Bowl of Compassion" program has provided free porridge vouchers (equivalent to 86,696,000 VND) to 2,016 poor patients.

As for the Thai Hoa Town Red Cross Society, in addition to its main task of disseminating information and mobilizing officials, members, and the public to participate in humanitarian activities, it has directly carried out many relief and charitable missions. In 2014 alone, the total funding for relief and charitable activities reached 518,000,000 VND. Of this, through the "Tet for the Poor and Victims of Agent Orange" campaign, the town's Red Cross Society and its branches raised 261,000,000 VND, which was distributed to 2,235 poor families and victims of Agent Orange; support was provided to disadvantaged individuals based on requests from local organizations, free medicine was provided, and support was given to former Youth Volunteers and the Association of the Blind with a total of 32,000,000 VND; and regular assistance was provided to disadvantaged individuals with a total of 36,000,000 VND. In coordination with the Youth Union of Thai Hoa town, they provided free medicine worth 26,000,000 VND; collaborated with the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and Tay Bac General Hospital to maintain the "Bowl of Compassion" program with a total amount of 26,050,000 VND; and mobilized and transferred 24,000,000 VND to the Central Red Cross Society in the "Joining Forces for the Homeland's Islands and Seas" campaign. In addition, the Thai Hoa Town Red Cross Society organized a voluntary blood donation drive, collecting 406 units of blood; surveyed and completed "humanitarian address" profiles for 1,000 individuals... With these practical and effective activities, the network of the Thai Hoa Town Red Cross Society... Thai Hoa has a widespread presence throughout the area with 18 affiliated associations, 125 branches in hamlets and villages, 30 branches in hospital units, and 43 branches in schools, with a total of 6,268 members (Thai Hoa town has approximately 66,000 inhabitants), 10,036 Red Cross youth members, 45 volunteers, 150 supporting members, and 5 honorary members. The area with the largest number of members is Quang Tien ward, with 15 branches, 1,151 members, and 723 Red Cross youth members in schools.

In Thai Hoa town, we met with the Chairman of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr. Le Tien Kham, and heard him express: "Our association has done many charitable activities for the town with large donations. But I find the 'Bowl of Compassion' activity, linked with the efforts of the Red Cross and the Northwest Regional General Hospital, very meaningful. Therefore, I, along with 29 businesses, signed a commitment to maintain financial contributions so that the 'Bowl of Compassion' activity always achieves long-term effectiveness...". Sharing about the work done, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam - Vice Chairman of the Red Cross Association of Thai Hoa town, affirmed: "The Association always connects its mission with reality and with businesses to strive for more effective relief and assistance for those in need. All activities of the Red Cross are geared towards relief and humanitarian work. With what we have done and are doing, we always hope to contribute to multiplying the spirit of mutual support and compassion in the community...".

Nhat Lan