"Love others as you love yourself."

(Baonghean) - During the recent Tet holiday, the Red Cross Society of Nghean province mobilized donations of 37,718 gift packages worth nearly 12.5 billion VND to support 24,616 poor households and 4,153 victims of Agent Orange in the province. This effort contributes to strengthening the warm tradition of "loving others as oneself" of the Vietnamese people...

Nghi Van is a mountainous commune in Nghi Loc district. It has a large area and a large population, with the people's lives primarily dependent on agricultural production. The poverty rate in this commune is 18.7%, the highest in the district. There are also many people receiving social welfare benefits in the area, including 45 victims of Agent Orange, many of whom are in very difficult circumstances, struggling with daily life, and many are ill and lack the means to receive medical treatment. In light of this reality, the Nghi Van Red Cross Society has actively mobilized successful individuals from the commune and philanthropists to share resources with the poor and Agent Orange victims in the area. Mr. Vu Duc Duong, a native of Nghi Van currently working in Ho Chi Minh City, also came from a difficult background when he left his hometown to start his career. Therefore, he deeply understands and empathizes with the suffering of the poor in his hometown. Mr. Duong donated 170 million VND to the commune's Red Cross Society to support the poor and Agent Orange victims. From Mr. Duong's donation, the Association allocated 105 million VND to purchase 227 health insurance cards to give to needy and sick families. The remaining money was used to buy 150 gift packages (worth 200,000 VND each) to give to the poor and families facing hardship during the Lunar New Year of 2015.

Officials from the Nghi Van commune Red Cross (Nghi Loc district) visit the family of the mother of fallen soldier Nguyen Thi Chin.

Besides Mr. Duong personally, the Nghi Van Red Cross Society also received support from several businesses, organizations, and individuals in the area, such as the family of Mr. Truong Van Hai (private enterprise) who donated 10 million VND; the Nghi Loc District Health Center which contributed 10 million VND; and the Nghi Loc District Protective Forest Management Board which donated 4 million VND, etc. During the recent Lunar New Year of 2015, within just 25 days, the Society raised 204 million VND in donations. All of this money became meaningful gifts for disadvantaged households in the locality.

Nghi Loc district currently has approximately 2,050 poor households and 1,257 victims of Agent Orange who need support. Through the "Tet for the Poor and Agent Orange Victims" campaign launched by the District Red Cross Society, the generosity of people from all walks of life has been received in 30 communes and towns. As a result, over 1.1 billion VND has been raised, and this entire amount has been distributed by the District Red Cross Society and its branches to 2,372 gift packages for the poor and Agent Orange victims in the district, each package valued at 300,000 to 500,000 VND.

In recent years, the Thai Hoa Town Red Cross Society has done a good job in soliciting charitable and humanitarian support. This year, the Provincial Red Cross Society assigned Thai Hoa Town the target of donating 1,000 Tet (Lunar New Year) gift packages. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam, Vice President of the Town Red Cross Society, said: To secure funding to support disadvantaged individuals in the district, all local Red Cross branches have strived to do a good job of fundraising, and businesses and philanthropists in the area have wholeheartedly responded to the Society's humanitarian program. With a total donation of nearly 300 million VND, the Society has donated nearly 1,300 gift packages to poor households and victims of Agent Orange. Each gift package includes cash or a warm blanket, confectionery, cooking oil, MSG, etc., valued from 100,000 to 500,000 VND. These small gifts provide timely encouragement and material support for each family during the spring season. This movement has spread throughout the town, with many kind-hearted people joining in and contributing to ensuring social welfare for the community.

To spread the movement throughout the localities, the Provincial Red Cross Society directed and guided 21 districts, cities, and towns to organize fundraising through various forms: directly soliciting donations from agencies, businesses, organizations, individuals, and philanthropists; placing humanitarian aid boxes at train stations, bus stations, banks, and markets. From the province to the districts, cities, and towns, many diverse forms of support were provided, such as giving gifts, savings accounts, building charitable houses, distributing free medicine, and providing meals for hospitalized patients during the Tet holiday. Priority was given to distributing gifts to remote, disadvantaged, and particularly difficult areas. As a result, the entire Provincial Red Cross Society mobilized donations of 37,718 gifts worth nearly 12.5 billion VND; exceeding the target set by the Vietnam Red Cross Society by 15,718 gifts.

This movement has yielded tremendous results, supporting 24,616 poor households and 4,153 victims of Agent Orange in Nghe An province, enabling them to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) in the warm embrace of compassionate hearts, fostering a warmer sense of community and a brighter, more beautiful community life. This is a regular and meaningful movement that encourages all organizations and individuals to participate and contribute to helping poor families and those in difficult circumstances celebrate Tet more joyfully and warmly. The movement is vibrant throughout the province, reviving the national tradition of "loving others as oneself" in every citizen.

Mr. Nguyen Phung Vinh, Vice Chairman of the Nghe An Red Cross Society, said: "To ensure the movement achieves good results and spreads to all levels of the population, the provincial Red Cross Society closely follows the policies of the Central Red Cross Society, promptly advises Party committees and authorities at all levels, and seizes opportunities to act as a bridge connecting businesses and philanthropists to the target groups. At the same time, we deliver gifts to the right places in need and use media to call on philanthropists, businesses, and individuals to join hands in helping the poor, building trust among our partners in the Red Cross Society."

Quynh Lan