RSY vol.4 - More on “TA-BE-SA-IN!” project | |
On May 16, we delivered handmade pickled vegetables to the evacuees in Kokusaimura Hall, which provides a shelter for about 200 people. Those pickled vegetables were made from fresh vegetables donated by the volunteer group “Enoki”, based in Anjo city, Aichi Prefecture. As the “Enoki” has decided to continue providing fresh produce once a week, women from the local volunteer group are very excited about cooking those vegetables for others. Japanese pickles of cucumbers and daikon radishes were delivered by local volunteers. They visited every room to hand over small bags of the Japanese pickles prepared with care saying, “It’s not much, but Tabesain (Enjoy).” Local Volunteers deliver Japanese pickles to evacuees “Wow, I’ve just been waiting for these!” “I love pickles. I don’t want any other dishes if I have these. Thank you very much.” The pickles delivery brightened up the atmosphere in the shelter. Furthermore, the local volunteers shared and exchanged information with the evacuees, as they had some acquaintances in each room. While the local volunteers distributed the pickles, they conversed with evacuees in their local dialect. A friendly and comfortable relationship, “let’s share something with our neighbors”, has been built up between the local volunteers and the evacuees. Evacuees enjoy a meal A local volunteer working on this project said with a big smile, “ Their smiles make me feel so happy. That’s what keeps me doing this.” This is the power of community which supports people’s long and severe lives in the shelter. Reported by Ai Urano, Rescue Stock Yard (RSY, based in Nagoya) from Shichigahama, Miyagi, Northeastern Japan. (Edited by Tomoko Izumikawa - original submission Sunday, 4 September 2011, 03:38 PM) |