(VOVWORLD) - “Loving Meals” is a charity initiative launched by the Binh Duong provincial Red Cross Society to support disadvantaged people. Anyone who comes to the kitchen can fill their stomach with food and their heart with love and compassion, and will probably want to spread the kindness to their community.
 The “Loving Meals” model is launched on March 13, 2024. (Photo credit: Thu Dau Mot City) |
Since mid-March, Tra My Kindergarten 2 in Thu Dau Mot city has become a familiar address for poor workers and other people in difficult circumstances. It’s where the "Loving Meals" kitchen established by the Phu Loi ward Red Cross Society and the Man Tai Vegetarian Restaurant serves free vegetarian meals to anyone in need.
At 10 a.m. every Monday through Friday, trays of hot, delicious food are set out at “Loving Meals”. Each meal includes braised, stir-fried, and soup dishes that are varied so they don’t grow boring. As noon approaches, the rows of tables and chairs become crowded.
Before the "Loving Meals" initiative was launched, the Man Tai Vegetarian Restaurant had become popular for serving a vegetarian lunch for just 1,000 VND (4 US cents). After being temporarily closed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Man Tai coordinated with the Red Cross Society of Phu Loi ward to launch "Loving Meals".
“After studying the situation of local disadvantaged people, including the unemployed, lottery ticket sellers, and street vendors, we found that there was a great need for free meals. The Phu Loi ward Red Cross Society mobilized local donors for this model,” Cao Thi Lan Huong, Chairwoman of the Red Cross Society in Thu Dau Mot city, said.
“Before that, we had set up a number of places to distribute free food but only on the 1st and 15th day of each lunar month. Now this model serves food every week day.”
 Chairty meals are given to people in need. (Photo: baobinhduong.vn) |
“Loving Meals” serves 200 free lunches a day. Everything from the facilities to the servers to the ingredients for the meals, are provided by the Man Tai Vegetarian Restaurant and Tra My Kindergarten 2. The kindergarten is in charge of collecting the ingredients and preparing the food.
“As the demand increases, we’ll try to increase the number of meals. The ward’s Red Cross Society will continue to work with the locality to help disadvantaged people,” Principal Truong Bich Ly said.
The Phu Loi ward Red Cross Society and Man Tai Vegetarian Restaurant are trying to serve as many people as possible, but they would like help from the community to improve the quality of the meals, according to Lan Huong, Chairwoman of the Red Cross Society in Thu Dau Mot City.
“Anyone can contribute vegetables or fruits. We hope to increase the number of meals,” said Huong.
Phu Loi authorities say they will continue to look for donors to maintain the model and replicate it.
At “Loving Meals” the servers and the diners always treat each other with kindness and respect. Diners never forget to thank the people who gave them a nourishing meal despite life’s difficulties and hardships. Their benefactors are also happy to have spread a little love and made somebody’s life a little better.