Although the reports of COVID-19 in Vietnam are relatively low (with 267 cases and zero deaths as of April 151), social distancing measures have led to the closures of several small businesses and the loss of thousands of jobs.2
Hoang Tuan Anh, a businessman in Ho Chi Minh City, decided to find a way to help those negatively impacted by the recent restrictions. Reuters reports that Anh “had initially donated a batch of smart doorbells to hospitals in HCM City before turning his technological expertise to food distribution.”3 Now, what started in Ho Chi Minh City has spread to cities like Hanoi, Hue, and Danang, Vietnam.
In Hanoi, the distribution is set to take place daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm until April 30. These machines will dispense 3 kilograms of rice per person for free, or until the rice supply runs out.4 In Hue, volunteers are giving out 2kg of rice per person at several sites across the city in order to avoid large gatherings.5 Donors like these hope to increase their efforts in several more districts and cities throughout Vietnam.
Anh told Reuters his hope is to assure those less fortunate that “there are still good people out there who want to give them a second chance.”6 These examples can stand to remind us of the very principles we find in Scripture:
“He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.” (Proverbs 19:17)
“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)
References
1. COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Johns Hopkins University. Posted on coronavirus.jhu.edu, accessed April 15 2020.
2. Lee, A. 'Rice ATMs' provide free rice for people out of work in Vietnam due to the coronavirus crisis. CNN. Posted on cnn.com April 13, 2020, accessed April 30, 2020.
3. Duong, Y. 'Rice ATM' feeds Vietnam's poor amid virus lockdown. Reuters. Posted on reuters.com April 13, 2020, accessed April 15, 2020.
4. Minh, N. Rice 'ATM' in Hanoi helps underprivileged overcome COVID-19. Hanoi Times. Posted on hanoitimes.vn April 12, 2020, accessed April 15, 2020.
5. Hue, Da Nang cities set up free ‘rice ATMs’. Vietnam News Agency. Posted on en.vietnamplus.vn April 13, 2020, accessed April 29, 2020.
*Ivana Semidey is Customer Service Specialist for the ICR Discovery Center for Science & Earth History.
A Second Chance from a Rice ATM
The Latest
T. rex Had Legs Designed for Walking
A new study published in the journal PLOS ONE has found that T. rex had legs made more for walking, rather than running.1 Their long legs were...
Maple Syrup, Gold Nanoparticles, and Gratitude
It’s springtime in New England—an important season for maple syrup production.
The maple syrup season is short, only lasting between four...
A Day to Remember
"And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast...
Physics Today Article Ignores Monster Milankovitch Problem
An overview of the Milankovitch (or astronomical) ice age theory appears in the May 2020 issue of Physics Today.1 This theory (hypothesis, really)...
Pandemic Lockdown Result of Bad Software
One of the most frustrating things a person can go through is for their normally stable computer system, tablet, or phone, to suddenly stop working—a...
Lone Scotland Tree Survived Deadly “Elm Disease”
One lone elm tree survived a deadly “elm disease.”
Nicknamed “Ent Tree” (alluding to arboreal heroes in J. R. R. Tolkien’s...
Finding Hope in Flooding
On the morning of May 19, 2020, the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, declared a state of emergency for Midland County after two dams broke from...
World’s Largest Volcano Found Hiding Under the Ocean
A new study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters has determined that Pūhāhonu volcano is the world’s largest by volume and the hottest.1...
COVID-19 and International Missions
COVID-19 containment strategies are changing the dynamics of world missions. According to Christianity Today, many missionaries are stranded in temporary...
Astronomy Magazine: Big Bang in Crisis?
The May 2020 issue of Astronomy magazine asks what might have once been seen as an unthinkable question: Is the Big Bang in Crisis?1 The article...