Hải Phòng: Caritas opens a minimarket for the poor

During Lent, the small market will continue to move around the various parishes. Donations are also planned for two hospitals. Fr Joseph Nguyễn Văn Vang: "This work has an important human and emotional significance".

Hải Phòng (Asianews) - To mark Lent, Caritas in the diocese of Hải Phỏng opened a mobile minimarket to donate food and other essential goods to the poor and those in financial difficulty because of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

"Our parish priest has brought us together to pray and carry out social and charitable activities to help the poor and children who live in very difficult circumstances," Teresa Hoa, a Caritas volunteer from Hải Dương parish, told AsiaNews. Religious, Catholic associations, NGOs, lay people and social workers took part in the project, called Chân Thiện Zero Đồng.

Every Sunday morning, between 120 and 150 people receive basic necessities worth about US$ 8.75. But this is not the end of the story: the mini-markets can also move and take their services outside the parishes and residential communities.

On the first Sunday of Lent, 6 March, Caritas helped more than 120 people, including many students impoverished during the pandemic and orphans from the S.O.S school in Hải Phòng City.

The following week, the small market moved to Xâm Bồ parish. Most of the people who received the free goods are non-Catholic and live in outlying areas. Thanks to the help of Fr Gioan Kim Nguyễn Đình Hiệp, vicar of Xâm Bồ parish, Caritas of Hải Phòng diocese has supported 152 people.

The minimarket tour will continue on the coming Sundays. Father Joseph Nguyễn Văn Vang, director of Caritas in Hải Phòng, explained that 'the Zero Đồng supermarkets were opened to donate material goods, but this work has an important human and emotional meaning'.

The Catholic charity was also planning to visit and bring gifts to the Care Centre for Minors with Mental Illness in Vĩnh Bảo Suburban District in Hải Phòng and the Chí Linh Leper Hospital in Hải Dương Province.