During social distancing days in Ho Chi Minh City due to the Covid-19 epidemic, several Buddhist pagodas in the city have launched programs to frequently present free rice and vegetarian meals to disadvantaged people in localities.
On the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, Giac Quang pagoda located in Binh Thanh district’s Ward 11 has presented free rice to locals affected by the Covid-19 epidemic through a pagoda’s “rice ATM”.
The pagoda’s “rice ATM” has been launched and maintained regularly since April, 2020 by Venerable Thích Thiện Lực, Abbot of the pagoda.
Locals coming to “rice ATM” have strictly complied with the 5K recommendation of the Health Ministry such as face masks, temperature measurement, disinfection, and the minimum distance of 2m.
At Buu Da pagoda located in District 10’s Ward 13, its “rice ATM” has been launched since June 10, 2021. Every day, the pagoda presented 300 numbered coupons to people in the locality, each voucher is equivalent to 2 kg of rice and one bag of face masks for free.
Local receives free rice and face masks at the “rice ATM” in Buu Da pagoda
At Pho Minh pagoda located in Ward 15 of Tan Binh district, Senior Venerable Thích Thiện Ngọc, Abbot of the pagoda and lay Buddhists have cooked 400 sets of meals every day and presented them to people in temporary quarantine establishments in the district and surrounding areas.
The free meal cooking program has been implemented since June, 01 in collaboration with Youth Union members in the ward.
Senior Venerable Thích Thiện Ngọc prepares vegetarian meals
Similar to Pho Minh pagoda, in recent days, Bo De Lan Nha pagoda in District 6’s Ward 8 has donated hundreds of vegetarian meals to disadvantaged people in the locality.
From June 7 to 11, the pagoda made and presented nearly 800 free meals and lemon tea to people in temporary quarantine areas and poor locals, lottery ticket sellers, the elderly, and disadvantaged labors in District 5 and District 6’s Binh Tien Market.
Nuns of Bo De Lan Nha pagoda prepare free meals
Every day, Buddhist monks of Bat Nha pagoda in Binh Thanh district’s Ward 13 distribute free meals to disadvantaged people who severely affected by the Covid-19 epidemic during the social distancing in the city.
Bat Nha pagoda’s monk presents free meal to passing locals
