人間菩提--心中有愛富有餘
Tzu Chi Volunteers Bringing Warmth to the Needy across Taiwan in Winter
Today is the third day of Tzu Chi’s humanitarian activities in Sichuan.
It is very cold there now, but on the first day, which included the groundbreaking for a school Tzu Chi will build and the first day of aid distributions something happened that the locals described as remarkable.
The locals said that winter in Sichuan is usually cloudy. A sunny day is rare.
But on that first day, (there was sun)
The day before our volunteers arrived, the skies were still cloudy and it was drizzling.
It was very wet and cold.
But, to everyone’s surprise, the next day---the day of the groundbreaking ceremony---the sun came out.
There were blue skies. white clouds. and bright sunshine.
So, everyone was smiling.
(They were already warmed because of) the warm winter clothing, blankets, and food supplies they received.
These brought people warmth for the winter as it’ll see them through the winter.
When the people saw the thick blanket & clothing, they were very happy
But to have the sun come out on top of that, (they truly felt enveloped in the warmth of love)
They were warmed both on the outside and inside.
Every day, our volunteers interact with the locals and from the footage.
We can see the elderly and the poor smiling.
Isn’t such a world a most beautiful one?
For the poor, in winter, the days are especially hard because of the bitter cold.
It’s especially so now because the weather is particularly freezing.
It is especially hard to endure.
We often speak of “winter distributions” because since olden times, come wintertime kindhearted people would reach out to (give to the less fortunate)
So, the term “winter distributions” has been in use since the olden times.
That is because winter is especially hard on the poor.
At this time of winter, the winter clothing, blankets, and the love we give them will let them be warmer.
Though we are in an economic downturn now, as long as we have love in our hearts.
(we can still give) because when we have love for others even in poor financial circumstances, we can still make small contributions and when pooled together, it can be used to help others. As long as we’re willing to give, we still have the means to make a difference.
Our winter aid work in Taiwan has also begun as our volunteers have started visiting our care recipients to help them prepare for winter.
Take a look at our volunteers in Lujou.
See, they went to visit the people they’ve been caring for such as some elderly who’d tell our volunteers that it’d be good enough if our volunteers just come to visit and keep them company.
Though they say they don’t need financial aid as they can get by, by living frugally, our volunteers still visit them each month to give them love and care.
For care recipients like these, when the wintertime comes we’d still give them warm blankets. clothes, and fix up their houses, etc.
With it already being winter, Tzu Chi volunteers have already begun taking action by giving out winter clothes and blankets.
If the bed is broken, they would give them a bed and help put on the bedding.
That is how Tzu Chi volunteers bring love and care to people’s homes.
We also provide aid to single-parent families, widows, and orphans.
There was a widow that our volunteers went to care for.
It was very heartwarming to see.
She is a single mother.
Her husband has already passed away but she is very strong Tzu Chi volunteers have been continually providing love and care to the family, (and in winter,)
They also gave them blankets and asked her (if she needs any help) such as with the kids’ school fees.
She replied that there are many people who are more in need of help than her.
So, if they can get by on their own, they’d try their best to stand on their own tow feet.
So, during wintertime, we’d still visit our care recipients at home such as the elderly, the ill, women, and children.
Be they people who receive our financial aid or just those we regularly visit and care for, at this time, we’d check on their basic needs:
Needs for clothing, food, and shelter.
It will soon be the middle of winter.
So, we need to give out the relief goods so that they have warm clothes to wear when the weather is cold.
We cannot wait until the distribution in January to distribute the goods.
We have to provide aid to them earlier.
For those lacking a bed, our volunteers would quickly give them one, and for those lacking a blanket or warm clothes, they would do the same.
There is also a group of students living in the mountain area.
Since the weather is getting cold, our volunteers in central Taiwan went to a school up in a mountain in Miaoli County to see whether the junior high students there had enough warm clothes to wear.
The children here are short of material resources.
So, in wintertime when it’s very cold, they often don’t wear enough clothes and they’d shiver all over with cold.
After learning that many of the students come from poor families our volunteers had cotton-padded coats especially made for them.
See, how bright and orderly they look. (in their new coats)
This is what Tzu Chi volunteers have been doing in Taiwan.
Some say that they only see Tzu Chi aiding people in other countries.
(and think we do little for the needy in Taiwan)
However, just a few days ago, I was informed by Tzu Chi Foundation’s social services staff that the number of families receiving monthly aid form Tzu Chi has increased by 45 percent this quarter.
So, everyone, we do help the needy here.
In Taiwan, be it in mountainous areas, in the city, in the countryside, in remote areas. or in small alleyways.
Tzu Chi volunteers can be found bringing aid to those in need.
(We just don’t especially report on it because) this is what we do day in, day out; just as we wouldn’t make a point to mention how many meals we’ve eaten as it’s something we do every day.
But actually, the charity work we do in Taiwan is even more thorough.
When a poor family’s house has a leak or has holes in its walls or needs cleaning (because the family)
(is not capable of doing I themselves), our volunteers would all reach out to help dedicating themselves wholeheartedly.
(This is all across Taiwan) and all throughout the year, not necessarily only during the winter.
But in the wintertime, they’d especially visit care recipients one by one to give out winter clothing and warm blankets as well as help people clean or fix their homes.
They do all this and they’re always doing this.
I’m truly grateful to Tzu Chi volunteers.
It’s a blessing that there are Tzu Chi volunteers.
May we know to cherish our blessings and pray sincerely for there to be no disasters in the world.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment