Warm breakfasts

The lives of workers have faced lots of obstacles. In the face of the situation, many individuals and agencies in the province have joined hands in setting up charity kitchens, cooking thousands of free breakfasts for workers before entering shifts. This meaningful activity is increasingly spreading and warming the hearts of workers living away from home.

I used to be poor, so I want to share...

Since early 2023, on the 15th day of every month, workers in Di An ward’s Dong Tan quarter in Di An city have become accustomed to coming to the quarter’s office to receive free breakfasts such as roasted pork bread, sticky rice with chicken, beef noodle soup... Every month, this charity kitchen called as “Charity Kitchen” has different menus, but there are at least 2 to 4 dishes, guaranteeing to be nutritious and delicious.

On average, the charity kitchen gives 600 - 800 free breakfasts for poor workers every month

Phan Thi Hien, working for Heng Yong Electromechanical Co., Ltd. in Di An city’s Tan Dong Hiep ward shared: "My family lives near Dong Tan quarter, so we have received breakfasts from the kitchen many times. The aunts and uncles here make delicious food. Nowadays, economy is difficult. Workers' income in general is much lower than previous years. Some people do not have enough money to spend on their families. Such kitchens are very meaningful for workers".

There is a rule set by the kitchen that breakfast portions must be delivered to employees before 6 a.m., so that they start their shifts on time. On average, the kitchen gives 500-800 breakfast portions worth VND 15,000 each for employees every month. Dang Thanh Yem, Head of the kitchen said: "When cooking, the kitchen has to need dozens of people. They have to wake up at 2 a.m., then have to organize a force to distribute food to people. We are very happy to get help from Youth Union members and quarters officials…".

Regarding the meaning of establishing the kitchen, Mr. Yem said he was born in a poor family with many brothers and sisters. When being a child, he didn't have a full meal for 2 days in a row. When his family's economic conditions have been stabilized gradually, he has actively got involved in helping the local disadvantaged people. “After the epidemic, seeing that workers' lives were facing many difficulties, I mobilized family members to contribute money to make hundreds of breakfasts for workers living near my house. In October, I and some donors decided to set up a charity kitchen...".

The kitchen operates in the voluntary spirit, with key contributions from 13 members of its management board. According to Mr. Yem, since early this year, the kitchen has cooked and distributed 6,000 breakfasts to workers. Along with that, the kitchen has coordinated with the ward’s Fatherland Front Committee to participate in supporting 4 rounds of giving gifts for workers with difficult circumstances and poor households. Each gift also included VND 30,000 in cash...

Humanistic activities

Not only in Di An ward, humanitarian activities towards poor workers have also loomed large in localities such as Thu Dau Mot city, Thuan An city... Many free kitchens have been organized by the Fatherland Front Committees and Red Cross Societies of Thu Dau Mot city’s wards of Phu Loi, Hoa Phu, Phu Tan, providing thousands of free breakfasts for workers every month.

Pham Nguyen Phuong Tha, Secretary of Thuan An city’s Youth Union said that over the past time, Thuan An city’s Youth Union has carried out many practical activities to support poor workers living away from home, including organizing "Zero-dong” market-days", "Free breakfast", visiting and offering gifts to young workers with difficult circumstances...These activities were continuously implemented by provincial Youth Unions at all levels over the past time.

To prepare free delicious breakfasts for poor workers, helping them overcome the current difficult period, there are also the efforts by the local businesses. Do Trong Chu, General Director of Chu Du Design and Construction Joint Stock Company said that since August 25, 2023, the company's Youth Union has launched and maintained the model of "Meal of companionship – gesture of heart" on street D33, quarter 4, An Phu ward, Thuan An city. Every day, the company's Youth Union members get up early to prepare hundreds of free meals for employees. The company will maintain the model to support people and workers with difficult circumstances for a long time.

Reported by Quang Tam-Translated by Kim Tin