"Charity kitchen" has long been a meaningful humanitarian initiative, organized by various organizations and kind-hearted families across the province. This model represents the spirit of care, solidarity and the nation's good tradition of "mutual love and affection", "good leaves cover torn leaves" in community life.
Binh Duong is home to many "charity kitchens" that have been established and effectively maintained over the past years. However, among them, Thien Hoa charity kitchen stands out as one of the few that operates seven days a week, providing three meals a day. Founded by Tran Thanh Liem from Thu Dau Mot city’s Phu Cuong ward, Thien Hoa charity kitchen is a humanitarian initiative under provincial Red Cross Society. Initially, the kitchen was set up within Thuan An city’s Medical Center to support patients during their treatment. Recognizing the great need, Mr. Liem later expanded operations to provincial General Hospital, ensuring that more people could benefit from the charity kitchen. Despite initial challenges, the two charity kitchens have continued operating effectively, serving approximately 3,000 free meals daily to patients and their families.
To serve three meals daily for such a large number of people, volunteers at Thien Hoa charity kitchen start their day as early as 3:00 AM. They meticulously prepare everything so that by 5:30 AM, patients and their families can have warm rice and porridge for breakfast. After the morning meal, the volunteers immediately begin preparing lunch. After lunch, they continue with dinner preparations. Day after day, the kitchen remains "ablaze", the volunteers work tirelessly, but everyone feels inexplicable joy in their hearts.
According to our research, the primary funding for this charity kitchen comes from Tran Thanh Liem and his family. The kitchen has operated without organizing fundraising campaigns or soliciting external donations. However, the family gladly welcomes in-kind contributions such as vegetables, cooking oil, soy sauce, rice and dishwashing liquid from donors. Although not actively seeking support, Thien Hoa charity kitchen has gained a strong reputation for kindness and generosity. Sometimes, someone comes to give contributions in kind to share with the sick in need.
The happiest thing that Mr. Liem shared with us was that many sick people and family members, after returning home for a while, returned to the kitchen to eat and sent the kitchen sometimes a bottle of cooking oil, sometimes a few liters of dishwashing liquid...He deeply cherished the action because it reflects their affection for this kitchen—a love that spreads throughout life.
To learn more about the activities of "Thien Hoa charity kitchen" and the daily work of its volunteers, please watch the next episode of the "I Love Binh Duong" program conducted by Binh Duong Newspaper. The program will be broadcast at 6:00 AM on Sunday (March 2, 2025) at www.baobinhduong.vn and on Binh Duong Newspaper’s social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook…
Reported by Cam Ly-Translated by Kim Tin
