{"id":3384,"date":"2020-08-10T11:36:27","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T03:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=3384"},"modified":"2020-09-14T22:56:09","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T14:56:09","slug":"boy-donates-free-meals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/boy-donates-free-meals\/","title":{"rendered":"Poor Saigon Boy Hands Out Free Pineapples & Meals To The Underprivileged During COVID-19 Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saigon boy from humble background helps the vulnerable<\/span><\/h2>\n
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As the number of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam has passed the 700 mark, Vietnam is at a critical point in dealing with the coronavirus. <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

While medical frontliners and COVID-19 patients are fighting their own battles, there are many who are struggling to make ends meet<\/strong> due to the pandemic\u2019s economic impact.<\/p>\n

Aspiring to help Saigon\u2019s vulnerable communities<\/a> to tide over this challenging period, Kim Song Ho\u00e0ng Nhi, a 10-year-old boy, joined a local charity group and handed out free meals to those in need.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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His mother is a street vendor selling pineapples<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\"Saigon
\nKim Song Hoang Nhi sitting by a lineup of pineapples and a sign that says, \u201cFree Noodle Soup\u201d
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Nguoi Lao Dong<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Unlike the popular belief that only those who are financially comfortable can afford to help other people, the young donor Kim Song Ho\u00e0ng Nhi is actually from an underprivileged background. <\/strong><\/p>\n

He and his mother live in a rented house<\/strong> in a low-income neighborhood on Luong Dinh Cua Street in District 2. Ms Thach Thi Sa-re, his mother, has had to juggle between jobs to provide for the family.<\/p>\n

\"Saigon
\nImage credit: <\/em>Nguoi Lao Dong<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Every morning before 5AM, they have to travel 9.2KM from their rented home in District 2 to Ward 2 Market in District 10 to sell pineapples.<\/p>\n

\"Saigon
\nImage credit: <\/em>Nguoi Lao Dong<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Admiring the boy\u2019s sense of responsibility when they see him help his mom, their neighbors and fellow vendors often support them with cash<\/strong>. When receiving such donations, Nhi always asks his mom\u2019s permission to put aside a small sum so he can pay it forward and help the poor.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c2 days ago, I overheard my neighbors complaining about losing their jobs and not being able to pay rent. When I sell pineapples on the street, I see many people who can\u2019t afford to pay for breakfast. That\u2019s why I felt an urge to do something.\u201d Nhi shared.<\/p>\n

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He is happy to help people<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\"Saigon
\nImage credit: <\/em>Nguoi Lao Dong<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Nhi asked to join a self-initiated volunteer group<\/strong> that regularly conducts charity activities in his neighborhood. To play his part like any other volunteer, he donated VND1,000,000 (~USD43.15)<\/strong>, his hard-earned savings<\/strong>, to the group to buy food for the poor. He also gathered his friends and acquaintances to donate to the charity fund.<\/p>\n

Le Thi Duyen, one of the charity group\u2019s members, revealed that Nhi is the youngest group member. When he first asked to join the group, everyone had reservations because the boy was also enduring a lot of hardship himself. However, they couldn\u2019t turn Nhi down when seeing how happy he was helping people.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Saigon
\nImage credit: <\/em>Nguoi Lao Dong<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

According to Nhi\u2019s mother, he is so excited about doing charity work that he usually loses sleep <\/strong>the night before the charity event takes place. However, the responsible boy always manages to wake up really early to go to the charity location. <\/strong><\/p>\n

At every charity event, Nhi is constantly on the lookout for lottery ticket sellers, trash collectors, and motorbike drivers<\/strong> to give them meals and pineapples.<\/p>\n

Ever since Nhi joined the group, 300 meals<\/strong>, including a portion of soup noodles, a flan pie, and a pineapple each, have reached people in need.<\/p>\n

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Poor Saigon boy joins COVID-19 relief efforts to help the poor<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Nhi\u2019s story shows that charity knows no boundaries<\/strong>. Even though he and his mother are also struggling to put food on the table, they still act selflessly to help other people<\/a>. Not only does Nhi donate his savings to the cause, but he is also eager to spend time and energy to lend a hand.<\/p>\n

Frontline medical workers<\/a> and quarantined households <\/a>across the country have received a tremendous amount of support from members of the public so far. However, let\u2019s not forget the people whose lives are obscured from public view<\/strong> and who are also buckling up to cope with the impact of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

A donation of any size will help the poor sustain themselves during the upcoming social distancing period, as well as to inspire others to help the less fortunate.<\/p>\n

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