Anding District Office is taking on a task to help disadvantaged households reduce expenditures on essential goods, as a memo sent by Tainan City Government’s Bureau of Social Affairs states that districts must investigate their area’s need for food assistance. Special attention was given to 383 households from the following underprivileged groups: low income, middle-low income, and middle-low income and low-income elderly. The food donation effort began with the Southern Region Branch of the Agriculture & Food Agency being contacted in order to apply for 1,915 kilograms of white rice. The district’s Cleaning Unit was put in charge of dispatching vehicles and the district office’s substitute civilian servicemen showcased the spirit of community service by helping out during the transportation process, which involved going to the warehouse of Houbi District’s Farmers’ Association to pick up the goods and then bringing them back. The chiefs and officers of villages and boroughs started personally delivering the rice to households on July 18.
Village and borough chiefs and their staff delivering the white rice exemplified the real meaning of government bringing “service to the home”, and it was clear to see that the recipient households were touched by their effort. In addition to being given financial assistance part of the government’s social welfare funds, physically receiving the food surely made these disadvantaged households be able to feel the help they were getting. During their deliveries the village and borough chiefs and officers made sure to take the time to explain to the recipients that after the packaging is opened the rice should be stored in a cool and dry place so that it doesn’t get wet and that if it isn’t consumed within a short period of time that it should be preserved by putting it in a refrigerator or freezer.
Anding District Chief Liu Shih-Hsiung said that right now economies all around the world are not doing very well, and to make matters worse commodity prices continue to rise. For households that were already receiving social welfare allowances, these tough times have become another source of palpable pressure. On top of contacting private charities to see if they can donate goods, the district office also has applied for grain owned by the government, which will help reduce the families’ expenditures. The district office has also called upon caring souls to show their kindness through donating, as this will make Anding District effuse with care and warmth.
Contact: Li Jia-lun, Anding District Office, Social Affairs Section; Phone: 5921116 ext. 128