東台灣的花蓮好山好水,但在偏鄉部落卻也普遍資源匱乏,不少居民生活困苦,卻又處於法令補助邊緣,成了社福孤兒。所以,在當地有一群女老師,放棄穩定的教職,決定當起愛的宅急便,她們幾乎全年無休的上山下海,開著車穿梭在城市鄉村,找尋需要被幫助的個案、發送物資,一做就是10多年。
罐頭、餅乾、白米,交叉搭配組合,志工們正準備將這些企業捐贈物資,一袋一袋,親手送進部落。
[[李貞慧執行祕書 持修積善協會]]
“B餐,它有麵條,因為B餐的部分,大概二至三個人左右,A餐的話,大概就是四到六個人左右,所以我們會有白米,因為可能開伙的機會比較大”
穿過鐵皮屋下成排衣架,眼前出現的是一位57歲的太魯閣族單親媽媽,靠打零工,養活當前一家五口。
這「外面」的三個子女,是單親媽媽張愛妹與前夫所生,即使已經成年,卻並未幫忙分擔家計。
[[李貞慧執行祕書 持修積善協會]]
“妳低收入戶沒有過,是因為你有幾個成年的小孩,在政府來計算的話,他們會計算孩子對妳有扶養的義務”
像這樣家境困苦,卻因為名下有三名成人子女,而喪失社會補助資格的個案家庭,正是她們救援的對象。
隨志工腳步,鏡頭一步步接近的是間殘破失修的年老木屋,屋簷下住的,則是一戶半年前,才發生急難變故的隔代家庭。
[[蔡宜婷 持修積善協會志工]]
“ (孩子)爸爸本來在羅東那邊工作,是很固定的工作,然後突然間暴斃”
送物資的當下,卻發現另一項,需迫切解決的當務之急,屋頂漏水。
[[李貞慧執行祕書 持修積善協會]]
“通常我們就會借助,民間團體大家的資源,譬如說有些就是專門幫人修繕房子,有些就是會做兒童的助養”
常常為了這些個案,忙到沒日沒夜,五個幹部曾有個共同身分,那就是「老師」,其中四位,更是為了投身公益,放棄教職的瘋狂教師
[[李貞慧執行祕書 持修積善協會]]
“因為那時候校長知道我在外面做公益,有一次他就找我到辦公室談,他跟我說,貞慧,一個人一段時間只能做一件事,因為他擔心我一到五之後,六日沒有好好休息或是好好備課,會影響我教書的品質”
放棄穩定的教職收入,上山下海從事社會服務,現實的經濟問題,也曾影響過她們。還好靠著民間企業資助,以及發揮二手衣物的價值,讓協會漸漸茁壯。
[[李貞慧執行祕書 持修積善協會]]
“那因為長年下來,我們發現我們收到的東西很多,又很容易沒有經過處理,就會壞掉,所以我們後來集思廣益,就覺得那不然我們有一種方式,就是把它拿出來做二手愛心小鋪”
送不完的可以做義賣,義賣所得再拿來作為,添購食物包的來源,但究竟要多少的食物包,才有辦法溫飽所有需要救助的家庭。
[[李貞慧執行祕書 持修積善協會]]
“其實有時候我們發物資發久了,也會覺得,我做這些事情真的有用嗎,好像你在對著深谷丟食物,可是當我覺得在服務的過程裡面,透過不同面向的回饋,會覺得說,我做這件事情,是有意義的”
回饋,成為志工們,不斷走下去的力量。
她是協會關懷多年的新住民媽媽,總在協會辦活動時,把滿滿的感恩,化為一道道的美味料理。
眼前這位身穿志工T恤的66歲老奶奶,也是協會關懷的新住民個案之一。
[[陳桂霞(66歲) 新住民]]
“因為我一個人住,她們到我的家裡去關懷啊,感動啊,如果說有需要我的能力啦,錢的問題
[[蔡宜婷 持修積善協會志工]]
“其實大家來花蓮,都會去那種很漂亮的景緻風景區,或是說在網路上很漂亮的景點嘛,但是我也會跟大家說,其實真正漂亮的景點,不是在你看到的那些,因為當我去走訪這樣各個鄉鎮的那種部落裡面,我發現裡面真的很漂亮,而最漂亮的莫過於就是,人的笑容”
Group of teachers travels eastern Taiwan to make charitable deliveries (2014/01/12)
Eastern Taiwan is known for its plentiful natural scenery, but a trip into the region’s many small mountain communities shows insufficient resources. Many villagers lack necessities but do not qualify for government support. Helping them get through their struggles are five female teachers who, for the past decade, have dedicated themselves to delivering goods and services to people in need.
Volunteers work to organize cans, biscuits, rice and other items donated by local enterprises. Goods will be delivered by hand to mountain communities.
Lee Chen-hui
Executive Secretary, Daofa Light
Meal B is meant for two or three people and has noodles, while meal A is meant for four to six people. It has rice because there’s a better chance it will be cooked.
After passing through the makeshift wardrobe in this makeshift house, we see a 57-year-old Taroko woman. She is single and relies on part-time work to support four children.
Another three children the woman had with her former husband live away from home. Even though they are grown, they do not help with household expenses.
Lee Chen-hui
Executive Secretary, Daofa Light
This isn’t considered a low-income family because she has several grown children. When the government calculates income, it includes payments which it believes these children are obligated to contribute.
The volunteers search for cases like this: people who struggle yet still fall through the cracks of the social safety net.
We follow the volunteers as they approach a dilapidated cabin. Living inside is a family that has faced a generation gap since it was struck by tragedy half a year ago.
Tsai Yi-ting
Volunteer, Daofa Light
(Their father) had a stable job in Luodong. But one day, he suddenly died.
When the volunteers go to deliver goods, they discover a problem – The roof is leaking.
Lee Chen-hui
Executive Secretary, Daofa Light
Typically, we draw on the support of various NGOs. For example, some organizations have volunteers who specialize in fixing homes while others have people who take care of children.
The five volunteers often work day and night. Each has served as a teacher, though four gave up this line of work to fully dedicate themselves to charity.
Lee Chen-hui
Executive Secretary, Daofa Light
The principal knew that I was doing charity work on the outside. Once, he called me into his office to talk about how a person could only do one thing at a time. He worried that after a week in class, if I didn’t rest on the weekend or prepare lessons, it would affect my teaching quality.
Traveling around the region to help others is admirable, but, after having given up stable jobs, these volunteers ended up with their own financial problems. Fortunately, a combination of donations from private enterprises and money earned selling secondhand clothes and other items put the association on a firm financial footing.
Lee Chen-hui
Executive Secretary, Daofa Light
We found over the years that we received a lot of donations that would be ruined over time without proper care. Later, we brainstormed and decided to set up a small market for secondhand goods.
Donations that aren’t needed by the people these volunteers support are sold, with the proceeds going toward other goods. The association has found a balance between funding revenues and the support it gives. But sometimes, the volunteers still wonder whether they’re doing enough.
Lee Chen-hui
Executive Secretary, Daofa Light
Occasionally, after a long time of handing out goods, we wonder what use it is. It’s like we’re tossing food into an endless pit. But I receive lots of positive feedback doing this job, which lets me know that the work has meaning.
Gratitude shown by people in need renews the strength of these volunteers.
This mother is an immigrant who for years has received support. At association activities she shows her thanks through food.
This 66-year-old woman wearing a volunteer T-shirt is another immigrant who received support.
Chen Guei-hsia
Immigrant
Over my lifetime, they went to my home to see how I was doing. It was very moving. If they need help, I can’t give them any money, but I can give them my labor.
Tsai Yi-ting
Volunteer, Daofa Light
When people come to Hualien, they tend to travel to beautiful scenic areas or to landmarks discussed online. But I tell people that these aren’t the best parts of this land. When I go to these villages and towns and visit these communities, I see true beauty. Most astonishing of all are the smiles on people’s faces.