Seven years of service, thousands of lives touched
(VOVWORLD) - Every Tuesday morning, 56-year-old Nguyen Thi Lien and her Thien Tam group in Ha Long City prepare and deliver free porridge to poor patients at Quang Ninh General Hospital. This altruistic work, sustained over seven years, reflects her unwavering dedication and boundless compassion.
 Nguyen Thi Lien prepares ingredients for her free porridge. (Photo: baoquangninh.vn) |
Lien conceived the idea of providing free porridge in 2016 while caring for a hospitalized relative. Seeing patients in dire need, some unable to afford even a simple meal, she was moved by the kindness of others who donated porridge.
Lien founded the Thien Tam group in 2017, starting with just 10 members. Today, the group has grown to 30 volunteers, mostly women over 60. Together, they have prepared nearly 400 pots of porridge, delivering over 80,000 servings to patients.
 Nguyen Thi Lien and some members of the Thien Tam group visit a patient at Quang Ninh General Hospital. ( Photo courtesy of Nguyen Thi Lien) |
With the support of generous donors, the group’s efforts extend beyond porridge. They have given gifts to cancer patients, supported disadvantaged children in Ha Long, funded housing repairs for poor families, and provided aid to disadvantaged areas in Thanh Hoa and Cao Bang provinces.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, they donated bed sheets to field hospitals. Their total contributions amount to approximately 16,000 USD.
Nguyen Thi Lien and her group embody the spirit of kindness and community, inspiring others to live meaningfully while spreading warmth and hope to those in need.