December 2007/January 2008
Marv distributes rice in Tan Phu Tay
We gave 15 kilos of rice to 240 people in six towns. All of the people we help are poor, but the rice recipients are among the poorest, usually barely having enough to eat, and our gifts of rice are greatly appreciated.
March/April 2007
Janie distributes rice in Phuoc My Trung
Last October there was an unusually strong storm in Ben Tre province. It only lasted about an hour, but extremely strong winds destroyed some homes and blew the roofs off of many others. More importantly for many local residents, young coconuts were blown off of the trees before they had a chance to mature. This is an area where many people rely on coconuts as their primary source of income, and we found that when we got there in March an unusually high number of people did not have enough to eat. Because of this, we bought and distributed more rice than usual.
We gave 310 people in seven towns 20 liters (about 15 kilograms) of rice each.
In the Mekong Delta, an average person eats about 13 kilos of rice per month – a laborer 15 kilos. Even though we only gave each person enough rice for one month it was greatly appreciated.
July/August 2006
As our contributions have increased we have been able to buy rice for more people without sacrificing our core programs.
Giving rice is the most basic form of charity in Vietnamese culture, so our efforts in this area are highly appreciated. Most of our recipients are women, many of them old, many of them with dependent children or grandchildren.
We distributed rice to 165 people in the towns of Phuoc My Trung, Vinh Hoa and Tan Phu Tay.
January/February 2006
Distributing rice in Thanh An
We purchased and distributed 20 liters of rice to each of 120 families. Because this was done just prior to Tet, the lunar new year and most important cultural holiday of the year, we also gave each family a bottle of cooking oil, a bottle of soy sauce, some instant noodles, crackers and candy. We had 40 families in each of Thanh An, Phuoc My Trung and Tan Phu Tay. In each case 35 of them were chosen by the Peoples Committees, and five were chosen by us through personal observation while doing other projects in those towns. Our cost per family was $6.28.
July/August 2005
Board member Raphiel Benjamin observing rice distribution
in Phuoc My Trung
Thanh An
We purchased and distributed 20 liters of rice to 20 individuals and families, all referred to us by the Thanh An Peoples Committee as being in need of food. Our cost was just under $4.00 per family.
Phuoc My Trung
We purchased and distributed 20 liters of rice to 30 individuals and families, all referred by the Phuoc My Trung Peoples Committee.
In January we built a house for Mr. Tan, age 85. He is now in hospital and not doing well. We purchased 40 liters of rice for his son and grandson.
Hung Khanh Trung
We again purchased rice for Nguyen Van Tri and his family, this time 80 liters
In all cases we, or Phuong’s brother who is one of our volunteer assistants, personally distributed the food to each family.
January/February 2005
Daughter of a food recipient
Thanh An
We purchased and distributed 20 liters of rice to each of 20 families, all referred to us by the Thanh An Peoples Committee as being in need of food. Our cost was just under $4.00 per family.
Phuoc My Trung
We purchased and distributed food to 50 families, all referred by the Phuoc My Trung Peoples Committee. Because this food was distributed just before Tet, we bought slightly less rice for each family and added a bottle of cooking oil, a bottle of soy sauce, some instant noodles, candy and msg. Tet is the most important holiday of the year – the beginning of spring and the new year. If the first day of Tet is good it bodes well for the rest of the year. It is difficult for families in these circumstances to get a nice start to the year and our gifts were very much appreciated.
Food recipient
Hung Khanh Trung
We purchased 40 liters of rice for Nguyen Van Tri. Last June we repaired his roof and purchased 40 ducks to raise (we had planned on chickens but he preferred ducks). This project did not work out very well. Some of the ducks escaped, some were sold and some were used for food as the family barely has enough to eat. There are still four ducks and they keep them for eggs. There is good news as well. A few months ago the government built a compassion house for the family so their housing has improved. Buying a cow for them is still on our want list.
In all cases we personally distributed the food to each family.
June/July 2004
We purchased and distributed 20 liters of rice to each of 40 people in two towns. Each person was recommended by the local Peoples Committee as being in need of food. Most of them are old women who live alone or take care of neices, nephews or grandchildren. At one of the meetings, a woman of about 90 was in tears that anyone would offer her this help.
