Free meals provided by charity clubs, associations, groups and individuals have partly helped inpatients at hospitals in Da Nang to ease their financial burden during their fight against diseases.

Members of the 'Dong Cam' Charity Club prepare free meals for patients every Thursday.

In early Thursday mornings, the small kitchen at the Da Nang Oncology Hospital based in Lien Chieu District is always filled with laughter from members of the ‘Dong Cam’ (Empathy) Charity Club. For them, this volunteering activity has been maintained for nearly a decade.

As observed by our reporters, in the morning of February 23, the club gave nearly 800 portions of ‘banh beo’ (Vietnamese bloating fern-shaped cake) to patients in the hospital.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Hoa, residing in Hoa Minh Ward, Lien Chieu District, Head of the Dong Cam Charity Club, said "I used to take care of my little child at the hospital for 6 months straight, so I understand the hardships and difficulties of patients who have to pay treatment costs and living expenses at hospitals. Therefore, over the past seven years, I and other club members have always maintained this volunteer activity with the desire to accompany and encourage patients to get through hard times. Currently, every week, we provide free 800-1000 portions of meals to patients here.”

In a similar vein, over the past decade, the Love Beat Club-hosted ‘Meals of Love’ programme has helped patients partly share the financial burden, and added spiritual strength to families with young children undergoing treatment at the Department of General Internal Medicine of the Da Nang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital in Ngu Hanh Son District.

Every day, members of the club always renew the menu to create a happy spirit for child inpatients during their treatment process at the hospital.

Holding a free portion of meal, Mrs. Vo Thi Kim Ngo, hailing from Quang Ngai Province, a mother of pediatric patient Truong Thien Thu, 3, who is being treated for kidney tumors, expressed her thanks to the club for its meaningful programme. Thanks to the daily delicious meals provided by the sponsors, she could partly reduce economic pressure during the treatment time for her daughter, she added.

Over the past time, like the ‘Dong Cam’ (Empathy) and Love Beat charity clubs, many other clubs, associations, groups and individuals across the city have got involved in providing free meals for poor patients.

This meaningful action has empowered patients during their fights against serious diseases, and at the same time demonstrated the spirit of solidarity of the Vietnamese people for many generations.

In the first time of its operation, the 'Dong Cam' Charity Club had about 50 members who together donated money to maintain their regular operations.

All club members wear gloves and masks when processing food in order to ensure food safety and hygiene.

All stages are processed by club members

Meals are imbued with human love

Patients show their happiness when receiving charity meals from the 'Dong Cam' Volunteer Club every Thursday.

Reporting by CHANH LAM, LE THU - Translating by M.DUNG