Warm Hands Reach Out Across Seongbuk-gu for the Year-End Season

Anam-dong Volunteer Camp Prepares Birthday Table for Elderly Living Alone... Jangwi 1-dong Community Security Council Invites 8 Elderly Waste Collectors for Meal... Jeongneung 3-dong Youth Leaders' Association Raises Scholarship Funds to Support Low-Income Youth

As the year comes to an end, warm gestures for neighbors continue unabated throughout Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Lee Seung-ro).

"Elderly! Let's spend the winter warmly together!!" Anam-dong Volunteer Camp's 'Lighting the Candle of Love'

On the 20th, Anam-dong held the 'Lighting the Candle of Love' event for low-income elderly living alone in the community.

Despite the cold wave, volunteers and members of the Community Social Security Council gathered at the community center and visited the homes of elderly people spending their birthdays alone. They delivered gifts including calligraphy cards filled with the warm hearts of Rodemnamu Church, birthday meal dishes consisting of six types of side dishes, winter blankets, patches, food sets, and about ten other items, and held birthday parties to share congratulatory greetings.

Mr. An**, who received birthday congratulations, said, "I injured my leg and have been stuck at home without moving, but neighbors came all the way to my house in this cold weather to celebrate my birthday. I don't know how to express my gratitude and appreciation," and thanked the volunteers.

Choi Bong-sook, head of the Anam-dong Volunteer Camp, said, "During this sudden cold wave when the health of the elderly is a concern, I am grateful that opportunities to check on the elderly neighbors and send warm congratulatory greetings from the community continue steadily. We will strive to bring joy to more elderly people next year as well."

The 'Lighting the Candle of Love' event has been jointly hosted for the past 10 years by the Volunteer Camp, Residents' Autonomy Committee, and Community Social Security Council, providing birthday meals and gifts to a total of 310 elderly people celebrating their birthdays. Nearby private organizations also participated, lending a hand, continuously practicing warm neighborly love where residents care for residents.

Jangwi 1-dong Year-End Meal Sharing Event for Elderly Paper Collectors

On the same day, the Jangwi 1-dong Community Social Security Council invited elderly people who collect waste paper in the village to share a warm meal in celebration of the year-end.

Eight elderly people who work hard collecting waste paper despite difficult circumstances were invited and encouraged with warm meals and small gifts.

Im Seong-ja, chairperson of the Jangwi 1-dong Community Social Security Council, said, "The small efforts of the elderly make the village cleaner," and added, "Please take care of your health during the cold winter and have a happy year in 2024."

The Jangwi 1-dong Community Social Security Council supports side dishes for elderly living alone through the Love Sharing Side Dish Support Project and plans to continue inviting socially vulnerable groups for meal sharing in the future.

Jeongneung 3-dong Youth Guidance Council Scholarship Award Ceremony

Earlier, on the 15th, the Jeongneung 3-dong Youth Guidance Council (Chairman Yoon Seong-ho) donated 500,000 won in scholarships to be used for youth from low-income families. This scholarship was prepared by pooling the small contributions of the members of the Jeongneung 3-dong Youth Guidance Council.

The Jeongneung 3-dong Youth Guidance Council has been continuously engaged in various activities for youth, such as conducting monthly street campaigns to identify and supervise harmful youth establishments and guiding delinquent youth. They also contribute to spreading a culture of donation through annual scholarship awards.

Yoon Seong-ho, chairman of the Jeongneung 3-dong Youth Guidance Council, said, "It is very meaningful to hold the scholarship award ceremony thanks to the efforts and sincerity of the members," and added, "We hope to be a small hope for youth in Jeongneung 3-dong and will strive to support them every year."

Lee Seung-ro, mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, "I am warmed by the news of sharing continuing throughout our region," and added, "I hope that with the community’s warm hands, everyone will have a warm winter without any neighbors being left out."