"It Hurts to Hear It's the Last Time"... Senior Expresses Gratitude with a Handwritten Letter

A Senior’s Heartfelt Letter of Thanks Draws Attention in Nongsodong 2, Ulsan
Expressing Gratitude Amid Difficult Circumstances
Buk-gu, Ulsan Operates 23 Sharing Refrigerators and Freezers

"I am deeply grateful to those who helped with my meals as if it were their own responsibility."

A touching handwritten letter from a senior citizen has become a topic of conversation. Earlier this month, a senior citizen visited the Nongsodong 2 Administrative Welfare Center in Buk-gu, Ulsan, and handed over their diary to a staff member. On one page of the diary, the senior had written words of gratitude for the food packages delivered to their home every month.

A senior citizen’s gratitude diary after using the sharing refrigerator. Buk-gu, Ulsan

According to related organizations on December 12, the senior citizen had difficulty preparing meals alone due to health issues, including kidney dialysis. Since January of this year, they were selected as a recipient of Buk-gu’s “Sharing Refrigerator” program and received packages of food such as rice, ramen, and side dishes at home twice a month. As the support period recently ended, the senior brought their diary to the administrative welfare center to express gratitude to those who had helped provide meals throughout the year.

In the diary, the senior wrote, "I have barely managed to prepare meals due to my poor health," "Thanks to the food packages, I was able to eat balanced meals," and "It must have been a difficult and demanding task, but I am grateful to those who stepped up as if it were their own work." The senior added, "When I saw the word 'final,' I felt I had to at least say thank you for all the help I received."

Staff members from the Nongsodong 2 Administrative Welfare Center and the local Community Security Council saw the senior off, encouraging them to continue using the sharing refrigerator even after the delivery support ended. The center stated, "The sincerity shown by our residents motivates us to work even harder," and added, "We will continue to do our best so that everyone can lead a healthy and happy daily life."

Buk-gu, Ulsan currently operates a total of 23 sharing refrigerators and freezers across eight neighborhoods, and last year alone, provided approximately 230 million won worth of food and ingredients to about 28,000 people. Each neighborhood’s Community Security Council regularly delivers food packages to seniors with mobility difficulties and other vulnerable groups, while also checking on their well-being and health status.