2024年04月27日, 週六

Donating the 2nd “Love Ocean” Mobile Shower to New Taipei City for the Homeless

By Taipei News Team, Formosa (Originally in Chinese)

Back in 2005, when Supreme Master Ching Hai heard that a mobile shower in New Taipei City for the homeless was too old to use and urgently needed replacing with one that could provide hot water, She offered funds to buy the mobile shower “Love Ocean” for the Taipei County (New Taipei City) Government. For the past 13 years, about 65,000 homeless friends have benefited from the “Love Ocean.” After years of use, the parts started to wear, therefore The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association customized a whole new mobile shower “Love Ocean No.2” for the homeless and held a simple, yet grand donation ceremony on August 6, 2018 in New Taipei City’s social administration building.

At the ceremony, the Deputy Mayor of New Taipei City, Ms. Lu Wei-Qing accepted a symbolic key for the “Love Ocean No. 2” from the representative of our Association. Afterwards, she presented a letter of appreciation to our International Association on behalf of the Mayor, Dr. Eric Chu Li-Lun.

During her speech, Ms. Lu expressed gratitude to The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for continuously looking after the disadvantaged groups by providing necessities to the homeless, such as donating warm clothing items and bringing hot food to the homeless on the streets in winter, and now, building the “Love Ocean No. 2” mobile shower. She was very grateful to our Association and hoped our good deeds would inspire more groups in society to make donations and spread this positive energy!

The Supervisor of the New Taipei City Outreach Service Center for the homeless, Mr. Chen Jun-Gu, and the Director of New Taipei City Volunteer Association, Ms. Huang Mei-Ying, also attended the ceremony. Director Huang Mei-Ying said that every year our Association members have been participating in activities for the well-being of the homeless during the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and the New Year. “Love Ocean” is often brought to the site to render service. The homeless frequently comment that the mobile shower has given them all kinds of convenience in life. When they go out to work, their clean and refreshing appearance would greatly improve the impression they give to the employers as well as increase their own self confidence and motivation to integrate into society. When the winter chill hits, taking a warm shower would make them feel being well taken care of. They all feel grateful to The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for the loving contribution!

Supervisor Chen Jun-Gu said,

“Taking a shower has been a big problem for the homeless people living on the streets. Now with the brand new mobile shower, a service plan will be produced using newly set schedules and locations, primarily centered around the places where the homeless would go, so that more people can enjoy taking a good shower.”

Supervisor Chen also mentioned that on August 8, Father’s Day morning, “Love Ocean No. 2” would be brought to Guangxing Citizen Activity Center in Sanchong District for its grand opening, to serve the homeless who participate in the Father’s Day activity.

At the end of the ceremony, the Commissioner of the Social Welfare Department of New Taipei City Government Ms. Chang Ching-Li, and the honored guests arrived at the open square next to the east side of the City Hall to take photos with “Love Ocean No. 2” and handed the key to Supervisor Chen Jun-Gu.

Many news media agents were present at the ceremony to conduct detailed coverage including interviews. Some of the news outlets present included Independent Evening Post, The Commons Daily, Economic Daily News, Taiwan Shin Sheng Daily News, Liberty Times Net, Yahoo News, udn.com, TaiwanHot Net, LIFE, PChome News, China Daily News.


Expenditure by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for Donating a Mobile Shower to New Taipei City, Formosa

Description Amount (TWD) Receipt
Vehicle, truck, materials, natural Gas and registration Fee 1,020,340 A
Total TWD 1,020,340     (US$33,317)  
Letter of Appreciation

 

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