The day before Christmas felt warmer in many corners across the country as volunteers reached out to neighbors in need, sharing the spirit of the season.
About 50 volunteers of all ages, from young children to university students and middle-aged adults, gathered in a multihousing neighborhood in Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, to deliver coal briquettes to coal-reliant families on Wednesday.
By donning red mufflers or knits along with Santa hats and reindeer headbands, some volunteers transformed the delivery into a heartwarming surprise.
An 8-year-old boy was eager to help, carrying a coal briquette, which typically weighs about 3.6 kilograms, on a wooden carrier strapped to his back.
In Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, officials and volunteers from the Babfor Sharing Movement Headquarters under the Dail Welfare Foundation delivered food and daily necessities to the homeless, older adults living alone and other people in need.
At Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, a longtime gathering place for older residents, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism offered free meals and lunch boxes.
At a free meal center run by Wongaksa inside the park, older adults lined up early in the morning, waiting for food to be served.
At the Korean Red Cross’ branch in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, volunteers dressed in Santa costumes packaged bread they had baked for children at local child welfare facilities.
cjh@heraldcorp.com
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