[Harumanbo Harucheonja] "Sweat Shed in Flood-Affected Areas... Bonds Grow Stronger"

Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association Provides Aid Supplies to 57 Regions
428,000 Relief Items Distributed Over 19 Days, 6.3 Tons of Laundry, 4,000 Meals Provided
Gratitude and Good Deeds Promote Brain Health... Strengthening Social Bonds More Strongly

Recent neuroscience research shows that gratitude and good deeds promote brain health. In particular, acts of helping others provide much greater mental rewards than receiving help. Good deeds trigger the release of powerful chemicals in the brain such as oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, which elevate mood, enhance reward stimulation, and relieve stress. Kindness slows heart rate and reduces the risk of coronary artery disease. Oxytocin is also related to social bonding, which strengthens our connections with others.

On August 5th, the Hope Bridge Volunteer Group visited farms in the flood-affected area of Cheongyang-gun, Chungnam Province, removing waste and soil accumulated in greenhouses as part of recovery efforts.
[Photo by Hope Bridge]

The Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association (Chairman Song Pil-ho) is actively engaged in good deed activities by visiting neighbors affected by the "extreme heavy rain." Hope Bridge has supported 428,300 relief items in 57 regions nationwide affected by the record-breaking rain in July, and carried out relief activities such as washing 6.3 tons of laundry and providing 4,000 meals. From July 13, when heavy rain was forecasted, Hope Bridge activated its disaster safety situation room and all staff began emergency duty. At the disaster relief logistics centers located in Paju and Hamyang, emergency relief kits, bottled water, and other relief supplies entrusted and stored by local governments were urgently dispatched.

As of July 31, a total of 428,300 relief items were provided, including ▲5,079 emergency relief kits (93,804 items) ▲951 shelter partitions ▲200 cots ▲3,310 bottles of ion drinks ▲200,268 bottles of water ▲28,544 packs of ramen. To support washing of clothes and bedding dirtied by rainwater and muddy water, specially designed laundry relief vehicles sponsored by Hyundai Motor Group and Lotte were deployed. The special vehicles, weighing 5.5 tons and 7.5 tons, are each equipped with three large washing machines and dryers, and during this flood, a total of 6.3 tons of laundry was washed in locations such as Beolbang-ri, Yecheon, Gyeongbuk, and Wonidam Village, Goesan, Chungbuk.

On August 9, the Hope Bridge Medical Volunteer Group provided medical services for disaster victims at a shelter set up at Cheongnam Elementary School in Cheongyang, Chungnam.
[Photo by Hope Bridge]

Meals were also prepared for flood victims at risk of malnutrition. From July 21 to 23, Hope Bridge provided carefully prepared meals for flood victims, soldiers, police officers, and volunteers at Wonidam Village, Goesan, Chungbuk, and from July 24 to 30 at Cheongnam Elementary School, Cheongyang, Chungnam. A total of about 4,000 servings of meals were provided, each consisting of more than five side dishes, receiving positive responses on site. On July 29, samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) was prepared to replenish stamina depleted by restoration work under the heatwave following the heavy rain, and it was well received by those on site. Corporal A, who was involved in restoration work in Cheongyang, said, "I lost my appetite because I sweated so much, but the side dishes were delicious and the samgyetang broth was rich, so I ate well." Mr. B, a resident in his 70s, said, "It tastes better when cooked in a large pot," and added, "Thank you for preparing such precious food while sweating in this hot weather." On July 28, YG Entertainment sent a snack truck to Cheongnam Elementary School, providing 500 servings of beverages such as iced coffee and grapefruit ade, as well as donuts, for soldiers and flood victims working hard on flood recovery.

An employee of the Hope Bridge Hamyang Disaster Relief Logistics Center is loading emergency relief kits and other relief supplies to support areas affected by heavy rain.
[Photo by Hope Bridge]

At the flood sites, members of the Hope Bridge Special Mission Rescue Team, the Artists United Volunteer Group, and the Medical Volunteer Group traveled through affected areas such as Yecheon, Gyeongbuk; Goesan, Chungbuk; and Cheongyang, Chungnam, providing laundry, meals, and medical services. Choi Kyung-man, head of the Hope Bridge Artists United Volunteer Group, said, "The temperature on site was very high, which was physically demanding, but we did our best without showing it to offer some comfort to those affected." Kim Jeong-hee, Secretary General of Hope Bridge, said, "The difficulties of neighbors affected by the heavy rain still remain. The affected areas are so vast that we regret not being able to care for all flood victims," and added, "Hope Bridge will stand by the flood victims until the end."

The Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association is a purely private organization established through the cooperation of newspapers, broadcasters, and social organizations, and is the only legal relief organization in Korea authorized to provide natural disaster relief funds. Since its establishment, it has cumulatively supported 1.6 trillion won in donations and over 60 million relief items.