VNRC to Give Gifts to Poor, AO Victims

The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VNRC) has launched a humanitarian campaign to help poor families and Agent Orange victims prepare for the coming traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. The annual campaign aims to present at least one million gifts, worth at least $15 each, to poor and Agent Orange families in the country. People can support the campaign by texting TET to 1409 till February 26, 2016. Each SMS costs VND18,000 ($0.8). Ten organizations, enterprises and individuals donated more than VND10.4 billion ($462,000) to the VNRC fund for poor and Agent Orange victims at a ceremony today in Hanoi. The VNRC statistics said the campaign has mobilized more than VND3,700 billion ($164.5 million) to help nearly 16 million poor and Agent Orange families in the country during its 17-year-long implementation. Last year, the campaign mobilized nearly 1.97 million gifts, worth more than $719 billion (nearly $32 million), which were donated by 33,800 organizations and individuals to help disadvantaged people in the country. (http://vietnamnews.vn/ Jan 18)