DDM Global News
Taiwan Medical Personnel Received Blessings and Support from DDM Social Welfare and Charity Foundation
On May 28, 2021, Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation (DDMSWCF) gave the Amulet of Peaceful Mind to the Taiwan Union of Nurses Association (TUNA), in the hopes of bringing peace of mind to the frontline medical staff fighting against COVID-19 under pressure from tight medical resources. Venerable Chang Shun, director-secretary of the foundation, presented Kao Ching-Chiu (高靖秋), Chairperson of the association on behalf of all the nurses in Taiwan, with the amulet.Since the COVID-19 alert level for Taipei and New Taipei Cities rose to Level 3 in mid-May, Wanhua District has been one of the most impacted regions of Taipei. Lin Lany-in (林蘭因), director of Wanhau Lonshang Elderly Service and Day-care Center, remarked that 73 out of the nearly 200 elderly people served by the center are either low and lower-middle-income residents, or are in financial difficulties. An average of 40 of them visits the center monthly to receive free necessities such as rice, noodles, and canned food.
Chu Kuan-hsun (朱冠勳), a social worker of the Center, mentioned that the elderly are facing difficulties due to the surge of confirmed cases in the district in mid-May, which had stopped fundraising events and this impacted the amount of donated materials the Center received. In response to this situation, DDMSWCF has decided to provide funding to the Center every month from July to the end of the year for purchasing daily necessities for the elderly living alone.Hsieh Li-hua (謝麗華), director of Wanhua Center for Social Welfare, stated that disadvantaged groups in Wanhua, such as vagrants, are of great concern to social workers as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surges in this district. The center is experiencing a shortage of personal protection materials. In response to this urgent need, DDMSWCF sent 2000 face masks to the center on May 19 for distribution to the homeless people to help prevent further spread of the pandemic.
Since the onset of this outbreak, frontline medical personnel in the Bopiliao Historic Block Rapid Testing Station, Wanhua, have suffered enormous pressure on the resource. On May 25, DDMSWCF provided thirty boxes of blessed Great Compassion Water to help relieve their anxiety and to provide them a sense of peace. On June 1, the staff of DDMSWCF delivered the Guanyin Amulet of Peaceful Mind, Master Sheng Yen's 108 Adages of Wisdom, and 75 boxes of blessed water to the medical personnel in Taipei City Hospital Renai Branch and Taipei City Hospital Heping Branch, both of which are designated COVID-19 treatment hospitals.
DDMSWCF stated, "During this challenging time, our mutual cares, understanding, and well wishes to each other are the source of stability and support for the society and individuals. May the government and all Taiwanese's collaborative efforts to stop the spread of the pandemic bring an end to it soon, and all could live in peace and at ease."Text & Photos: Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation
Translation: Hsiao Chen-an
Editing: Shujen Yeh, Greg Aiani