Nghe An Provincial Youth Union mobilizes volunteer troops to serve at 2,000 VND rice restaurants

The 2,000 VND restaurant for patients and the disadvantaged at 88 Phung Khac Khoan, Vinh City has become a familiar address for many poor workers and lonely elderly people. The restaurant has brought meals filled with love and sharing to the poor workers.

From early morning, volunteers were present at the restaurant to prepare lunch for patients and the poor. Photo: Thanh Le

Volunteers prepare trays and dishes to ensure hygiene. Photo: Thanh Le

At 10:00 a.m. on March 9, the 2,000 VND rice shop for patients and the needy of Thien Tam Group 20-34 Le Huan, at 88 Phung Khac Khoan Street, Vinh City was bustling with people lining up to buy rice.

The 2,000 VND rice shop has become a familiar address for poor patients. Photo: Thanh Le

Receiving a hot plate of rice with meat, vegetables, soup and banana for dessert, Mr. Nguyen Van Huan (73 years old) in Thuong Tan Loc commune, Nam Dan district, a patient being treated at the Provincial Blood Transfusion and Hematology Center, happily said: “The restaurant is clean, the food is delicious, nutritious and there is drinking water. Many days, benefactors also sponsor milk and cakes. For poor patients from the districts who come here for long-term treatment, the restaurant has helped ease some of their difficulties. We are very grateful to the benefactors.”

Student volunteers give out free cards to patients and the poor who come to the restaurant to eat. Photo: Thanh Le

To support the restaurant,Nghe An Provincial Youth Unionhas issued an official dispatch assigning volunteers to participate in the "2,000 VND Rice Shop". The volunteer teams are members and youth of the following youth organizations: Provincial Agencies Bloc, Vinh University Youth Union, Vinh Technical Pedagogical University, Nghe An University of Economics, Nghe An Pedagogical College, College of Tourism and Commerce, Viet Duc College, Viet - Korea Industrial Technical College, Vinh Medical University, College of Culture and Arts Education and Vinh City Youth Union...

According to the assignment of the Provincial Youth Union, the units develop plans, create specific assignment tables for their units, and assign staff to monitor. The time starts from March 9, 2021 (initial responsibility is taken by the volunteer team of Vinh University of Technical Education). Every day, 5-6 volunteers are assigned to serve at the restaurant.

The restaurant's customers are mainly patients being treated at hospitals in Vinh city. Photo: Thanh Le

Mr. Nguyen Van Huan (Nam Dan), a regular customer of the restaurant, thanks the benefactors and volunteers for their concern. Photo: Thanh Le

Present from early morning, Nguyen Van Tien, a student of Mechanical Engineering class K13Z at Vinh University of Technical Education, said: "Since the restaurant opened, on days when I don't have classes, I come here to support the restaurant with tasks such as picking vegetables, washing dishes, cleaning, and tidying up the restaurant. Today, my volunteer team was officially assigned to support the restaurant. The work is a bit hard, but I have contributed a small part to help and share with the poor."

At noon on March 9, leaders of Nghe An Provincial Youth Union visited and encouraged patients and representatives of Thien Tam Group to set up a 2,000 VND rice shop for patients and the needy. Photo: Thanh Le

Mr. Chu Duc Thai - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union, Chairman of the Youth Union of Nghe An province said: In order to support the 2,000 VND rice shop serving patients and the disadvantaged, the Provincial Youth Union assigned volunteer teams to serve at the shop not only for a day or two but until the end of the year to support human resources for the shop. Along with that, the Provincial Youth Union will call for resources to contribute to maintaining the shop's operations. At the same time, through this activity, it aims to spread the spirit of volunteering for the community among union members and youth.

Mr. Phan Hung Son - in charge of the 2,000 VND restaurant for patients and the disadvantaged added: "Most of the patients who come to the restaurant are in difficult circumstances, the long treatment time makes them tired. We have to pay attention to our speech, service attitude, and how we arrange each group of customers. In particular, the restaurant focuses on ensuring food hygiene and safety."

Representatives of Nghe An Provincial Youth Union presented gifts to encourage Thien Tam Group. Photo: Thanh Le

"Since the restaurant opened (December 5, 2020), the number of customers coming to the restaurant to eat 2,000 VND meals has increased, but there are still few volunteers serving at the restaurant. We have proposed that the Provincial Youth Union support more volunteer teams to serve the restaurant with tasks such as picking, washing vegetables, washing dishes, cleaning... From today, the Provincial Youth Union has sent volunteer teams to serve for free, so we have less trouble and can serve people more promptly" - Mr. Son shared.

The 2,000 VND restaurant for patients and the disadvantaged at 88 Phung Khac Khoan, Vinh City opens at 10am every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Each day there is a menu with different dishes, pre-divided and served on trays to poor patients and those in difficult circumstances.