HCMC – The coronavirus pandemic has placed severe impacts on the livelihoods of many people, especially the poor and the vulnerable. Still, it has brought out the best in people. Across the country, numerous individuals and organizations are showing their kindness by sharing the burdens with those heavily affected by the virus, such as self-employed workers who are now mired in hardship and even unable to afford the cost of their daily meals or monthly home rent.
Holding a strong community spirit, Saigon Times Group spares no efforts to lend a helping hand to needy people. Since early April, it has called on individuals and businesses to join the Saigon Times – Noi Vong Tay Lon program, with an aim to help mitigate the difficulties faced by those adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks to its close connections with the business community, the group has successfully rallied support from generous donors, raising over VND520 million to date, and still counting, along with food and necessities.
On April 17 and 18, Saigon Times Group, in collaboration with the HCMC Red Cross Society, donated 750 gift sets to people who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19. Each gift set worth VND300,000 contains instant noodles, cooking oil, fish sauce, sugar, rice and monosodium glutamate. Earlier, the group donated one ton of rice to charity meal providers Nu Cuoi 7 and Bep Vui Ve in HCMC on April 13.
Since last week, Saigon Times Group has brought the charity program to the Mekong Delta. In Dong Thap Province, the program offered rice to 2,000 poor people and workers from April 23 until 26, given the cooperation of the Dong Thap Young Businesspeople Association, the Dong Thap Businesspeople Club, and many generous donors. Each beneficiary received five kilos of rice at 14 locations across Cao Lanh City in the province.
In Can Tho City, the Saigon Times-Noi Vong Tay Lon program gave 50 gift sets to poor people who came to Luu Huu Phuoc Park in Ninh Kieu District to receive free rice on April 24. Each gift set contained VND150,000 in cash and necessities worth VND150,000 donated by 9999 Company and Shop C&D.
“Before the Covid-19 outbreak, I and my husband earned some VND200,000 per day from selling lottery tickets, but we have had to stay at home for over a month. I feel very happy when besides free rice, I am given a gift set from the Saigon Times-Noi Vong Tay Lon program,” said Nguyen Thi Kim Loan, 59, a resident in Can Tho City.
Nguyen Van Vu Minh, Dong Thap Province’s Youth Union Secretary, said: “We do wish to share the difficulties with poor people through the program and hope the meaningful journey can bring love and practical gifts to many more needy families.”
“With Saigon Times Group as the media sponsor, more disadvantaged people are expected to receive free rice from the program. I hope that many donors in and outside the country could join forces with the organizers to expand the program in the future,” said Minh.
Giving strength to the program, Mirae Asset Finance Vietnam donated VND273 million to the group on April 24. Of the total, VND150 million came from the company’s budget and VND123 million was contributed by its employees.
In addition to VND273 million donated by Mirae Asset Finance Vietnam, the program has received donations amounting to VND250 million from many generous individuals and companies since the beginning of April, including Vinamit JSC, An Cuong Wood Working JSC and Yuanta Securities Vietnam.
Saigon Times Group continued spreading the community spirit as it coordinated with the Women’s Union of Hau Giang Province to donate 100 gift sets to poor people in Phuong Binh Commune, Phung Hiep District on April 28. Each gift set contained two face masks and VND100,000 in cash, which were provided by the Saigon Times-Noi Vong Tay Lon program, and 10 kilos of rice, which came from the Women’s Union.
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Loan, chairwoman of the Hau Giang Women’s Union, said: “We really appreciate support from the donors, which has been not only their donations but also their encouragement and love for disadvantaged people. I hope that we will continue to stay side by side and support each other to overcome this difficult time.”
