The charity market in Da Nang, more than just a local initiative, serves as social glue that promotes social connections and kindness in local communities.

Military officers and men offering vegetables to local disadvantaged households. Photo: LAM PHUONG

In the afternoon of the first day of November 2023, Mrs. Le Thi Sen, a resident of An Khe Ward, Thanh Khe District, was happy to visit a charity agricultural market. Visiting this charity market allows poor people to choose and buy essential items on store shelves for zero dong.

This charity event was co-hosted by the An Khe ward's Women's organization and local military units.

" Being single in old age, I face difficulties in life. Free essential items offered by this market helped me save money as I can use them to feed me for half a month. It's absolutely valuable gift for me!", said Mrs. Sen.

Mrs. Dang Thi Tri is another visitor to this charity market. Being an unmarried woman and suffering from a life-threatening disease, she faces financial hardship. The esstential items she received meant more than just tasty meals to her as it shows local authorities' kindness and their care towards people in difficult circumstances like her.

Initiated in April, 2023 by the An Khe ward's Women's organization and local military units, the monthly charity event sees the participation of the Chemical Defense Battalion 906 under the Chemical Corps and Recruit Training Battalion under the Division 372.  These military units donate vegetables and tubers grown by their officers and men to this event.

Meanwhile, money raised from local woman is used to buy eggs, spices and seasonings. These items go to help poor women, including the singles and persons with life-threatening illness in a bid to share and care for them, as well as give them the strength to overcome difficulties in life.

In a similar move, a similar event recently took place in Hoa An Ward, Cam Le District.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Be, was among the visitors to this charity event where poor people are allowed to choose and buy essential items on store shelves for zero dong, including  rice, instance noodles, spices, and vegetables.

Mrs. Be is one of the ward’s 142 households most affected by the flash flood event in October 2023.

Mrs Be highlighted the significance of the charity market which shows kindness to the poor as essential items received from this event cost VND 300,000 so that they would help the poor save money.

“I am deeply moved by the timely and thoughtful support of local authorities, thereby promoting social connection and deepening relations between residents and local government," Mrs. Be expressed.

Mrs Nguyen Kim Thanh, the Chairwoman of the Hoa An Ward People's Committee, elaborated that apart from the charity market, the ward has been active in giving back in practical ways through charitable activities in a bid to help those in need, including  'Free Meals' and 'Compassion Fairs'. Dozens of millions of dongs has been spent on helping families living under difficult circumstances. Focus has been paid to calling for active engagement of organizations and individuals to join hands with local government to care for the poor.

Initiated nearly two years ago, the charity market for students in Thanh Binh Ward, Hai Chau District, has become a popular destination for local students every Sunday morning.

One of the regular visitors at this event is Phan Thi Hoai Anh, a student of the Da Nang University of Technical Education.

Since 2022 when Anh from Binh Dinh Province went to Da Nang to study, he has become a regular visitor at this event

“Over the past two years, the charity market has provided me with weekly free food, allowing me to save a substantial amount of money," shared Hoai Anh.

The weekly charity market aims to offer free essential items to 300–400 migrant students, single seniors and the poor in the ward, thereby ensuring effective implementation of the city’s social welfare program, as well as ensuring 'no one will be left behind'

Reporting by LAM PHUONG - Translating by HOAI TRANG