The Red Cross unit in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City held on Sunday a meaningful activity allowing local residents to exchange scrap for rice and soy sauce.

More than 20 volunteers of the Red Cross Society in Tang Nhon Phu A Ward, Thu Duc City began preparing for the exchange event early in the morning.

People only needed to give such recyclable materials as some empty bottles, used plastic bins, or old cardboard to receive three kilograms of rice and a bottle of soy sauce in return.

Those with a large amount of scrap were handed 10 kilograms of rice.

Tu Ngoc, a scrap collector in Tang Nhon Phu A Ward, stated that the activity meant a lot to him.

Ngoc said he had to work for days in order to afford 10 kilograms of rice.

Thanks to the exchange, he was able to receive the rice with just some plastic bottles.

Ngoc could not remember how old he is, adding that his main focus is to take care of his sick mother.

Nguyen Thi Tu, 85, said she often collects and stores scrap at her home.

“I can no longer earn money, and thanks to this activity, I can exchange the materials I have been collecting for some rice,” Tu continued.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Linh, 58, who provides rooms for rent, said she had been looking for a way to deal with the scrap left by her tenants, who are mostly university students.

“I exchanged the materials for the rice and handed it to my tenants to support their lives as well as to help them become more aware of environmental protection,” Linh elaborated.

Le Thi Nga, a 45-year-old volunteer, believed that the activity has helped her better understand the value of scrap and the importance of waste sorting.

The exchange is mainly aimed at providing support to local residents, according to Le Kieu Hong Nguyet, chairwoman of the Red Cross Society in Tang Nhon Phu A Ward.

The organization had prepared more than 700 kilograms of rice and other necessities, Nguyet continued, adding that the money from selling the scrap will be added to the local fund for the poor.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!