(VOVWORLD) - At 2 a.m. every day, the charity kitchen of Sa Dec General Hospital in Dong Thap province is busy, with dozens of volunteers cooking porridge and rice to be distributed to poor patients early. At 3 a.m., 38-year-old Nguyen Thanh Xong begins his routine, collecting donated vegetables from the market and taking them to the hospital, where he helps the volunteers cook and deliver the meals.
 Nguyen Thanh Xong prepares to transport vegetables to the charity kitchen of Sa Dec General Hospital in Dong Thap province. (Photo: VOV) |
Xong's truck transports up to a tonne of vegetables each day. Although he often works late and has to wake up early and brave inclement weather, Xong doesn’t mind, saying he just wants to help those in need.
At 7 a.m., after distributing porridge and water to the patients, Xong continues his “zero dong food truck" deliveries to free kitchens and pagodas in Lai Vung town.
"Xong is very dedicated. He gets up early at around 3 a.m., collects vegetables for the charity kitchen, and helps with the clean-up. He used to drive a small lorry, but has bought a bigger one to carry more vegetables,” Vo Van Banh, a member of the management of Sa Dec General Hospital’s charity kitchen, said.
Huynh Van Be, deputy head of the management of Sa Dec General Hospital’s charity kitchen, said that Xong has been an active member of the charity kitchen for many years. “He is in charge of delivering vegetables to the kitchen to feed patients and their families."
A “zero dong store” in front of Xong’s house in Hoa Long commune collects free vegetables, which are then distributed to the poor each day. "At first, I collected only a small amount of vegetables, just to help a few dozen households in the neighborhood. Later, I started collecting more, and people could come and take whatever they needed," Xong said.
 Xong’s neighbors help him prepare vegetables for the zero dong store. (Photo: VOV) |
"Xong's zero dong store has been very effective in easing the financial burden for disadvantaged people," Vo Phuoc Minh, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoa Long commune, said.
Xong will be honored by local authorities this year as a role model in studying and following the moral example of President Ho Chi Minh.
Do Thi Kim Cuc, Secretary of Hoa Long commune’s Party Committee, said that Xong’s zero dong vegetable store is a symbol of love and sharing.
“His work benefits the community and fosters stronger bonds between neighbors. The local authorities will continue to help him promote the campaign of studying and following the moral example of President Ho Chi Minh,” said Cuc.