BLIA South Island sends 'Meals on Wheels' with Red Cross to Elders
The cherry blossom season has begun in New Zealand, with misty spring rain falling continuously over Christchurch. In the first week of Spring on the 4th of September, four Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island New Zealand members under the guidance of Venerable Zhi Wu joined the Red Cross in sending hot meals to elderly folk in Christchurch on a cold drizzly morning.
This Red Cross meals on wheels programme has been ongoing in New Zealand since June 1951, and BLIA has been collaborating with the Red Cross since 1997 to deliver these lunches every Tuesday rain or shine. Before setting off, the volunteers are briefed on their route, from where they will pick up the meals to the delivery points for each elder. BLIA South Island New Zealand is in charge of sending these meals to the elderly folk living in Riccarton.
Each meal given to the elderly is carefully prepared and formulated by a doctor to supplement essential nutrients needed by the body. The elders are always happy when they see the BLIA members, smiling and thanking them kindly for delivering their hot meal to the doorstep. Some of the elders were moved by the selfless BLIA members, especially when they see how often the BLIA folks stood at the forefront of doing good deeds. After a long time, many of the elderly folk have become acquainted with the BLIA members, chatting about their life and daily happenings when they meet.
Every second is precious, and the BLIA volunteers made sure that every meal got delivered within one hour. As the afternoon sun started to glow warmly, everyone returned, glad to have finished another day’s work.