Caring for the Homeless in Mid-Autumn in New Taipei City, Formosa

By Taipei News Team, Formosa (Originally in Chinese)

On the eve of 2018 Mid-Autumn Festival, the Social Welfare Department of New Taipei City Government and New Taipei City Volunteer Association held a “Lighting the streets with love – enjoying the moon in the autumn of 2018” activity at Yongan Park Activity Center in Banqiao District, to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with our homeless friends. Our Taipei Association members delivered 15 boxes of clothing items donated by our Association members, 50 pairs of newly purchased sweatpants, 250 boxes of mooncakes, and 60 kg of pomelos to Yongan Park Activity Center to be distributed to those who came to the event.

The Mid-Autumn Festival celebration with our homeless friends started in the afternoon. About 170 came to our Association service unit to receive free gifts. Our Association members selected and distributed the right clothes to them according to their preferences and sizes. The “Love Ocean No. 2” mobile shower was parked next to the park for them to take a shower and change clothes. In addition, the event venue also provided free services such as hair-cutting, medical-clinic and legal advice, so that they could consult on legal or health care issues according to their individual needs.

In her speech, Director Huang Mei Ying of the New Taipei City Volunteer Association said words of encouragement to them and hoped that everyone would find a job with stable income and be self-reliant by the Mid-Autumn Festival of next year. Director Huang specifically introduced “Love Ocean No. 2” mobile shower donated by our Association (please refer to https://news.godsdirectcontact.net/donating-the-2nd-love-ocean-mobile-shower-to-new-taipei-city-for-the-homeless-180792/ for more details). More than 50 people had a shower in the “Love Ocean No. 2” before this event. One of the users, Ah Bang, said that the weather was hot, but fortunately there was a mobile vehicle to let him freshen himself. He thanked our Association for donating the mobile shower.

Ms. Lu Chun Ping, Deputy Commissioner of the Social Welfare Department was also present showing her caring heart. She introduced many thoughtful and safety designs of “Love Ocean No. 2”. She also inspected the ease-of-use of the vehicle and expressed hope that those who need it can make more use of it. On behalf of the New Taipei City Volunteer Association, Deputy Commissioner Lu presented a certificate of appreciation to The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association to express their gratitude.

Our Association members handed out vegan mooncakes and pomelos donated by our members one by one, wishing all a happy Mid-Autumn Festival. Additionally, our Association members also shared vegan mooncakes with doctors and hair stylists who provided free services, and thanked them for their love and kindness. In the warm and pleasant atmosphere, we ended the Mid-Autumn Festival’s activity of caring for our homeless friends. This event was reported in detail by Independence Evening Post, Yahoo Kimo News, China Times, and other media.

Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for Caring for the Homeless in Mid-Autumn in New Taipei City, Formosa