A Second Chance from a Rice ATM | The Institute for Creation Research

A Second Chance from a Rice ATM
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.
The Latest
NEWS
Creation's Easter Message
While many Christians still consider the creation doctrine a fringe issue, a proper understanding of the Christian message finds creation at its core...

NEWS
ICR Veteran Don Barber Retires
Don Barber   After 34 years with the Institute for Creation Research, Director of Enterprise Technology Don Barber will retire...

CREATION.LIVE PODCAST
The Sanctity of Life | Creation.Live Podcast: Episode 23
Abortion is a big issue culturally and in the church. How can believers love our neighbors and act as the hands and feet of Christ when it comes...

NEWS
Plant Receptors Are Designed to Control Immunity and Development
God has designed plants to continuously track their environment.1 They do so with specially designed detectors (also called receptors) on...

CREATION PODCAST
Homo Naledi: The Lies Behind Evolution's Rising Star | The Creation...
Homo naledi, once evolution's 'rising star,' was considered to be a prime example of human evolution. But is it really proof? Or...

NEWS
A Subsurface Ocean on Mimas?
Scientists have analyzed data obtained from the Cassini spacecraft and concluded that irregularities in the orbit of Saturn’s moon Mimas indicate...

NEWS
In Theaters March 20 & 21: The Ark and the Darkness
Is Genesis true? What about Noah’s Flood? How did Noah fit the animals on the ark? Wasn’t it a local flood? Have you asked these questions? Though...

NEWS
Enigmatic Fossil Plants
The pre-Flood world thousands of years ago was unlike the world of today.1 Unfamiliar animals and plants were common, and there were a lot...

NEWS
Surprisingly Colorful Fossil Snail Shells
Finding organic compounds such as flexible dinosaur collagen and complete bone cells1,2 is becoming common, much to the shock and consternation...

NEWS
March 2024 ICR Wallpaper
"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:6 NKJV) ICR March 2024 wallpaper is now available for mobile, tablet,...