The shopping fair “Nghia tinh mua xuan” (Sentimental attachment to spring), hosted by Sai Gon Giai Phong at the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Culture Palace, wrapped up January 31 having raised more money than expected for the city’s needy.
During the fair, thousands of individuals and city businesses gave generously and in total, VND22 billion (US$1.18 million) was collected for the poor ahead of the upcoming Tet (lunar New Year) holiday.
The idea to host the festival was suggested by a friend of SGGP from the Hoan Cau Corporation who proposed that instead of calling on businesses to donate cash, enterprises also be encouraged to donate products for sale with proceeds going to charity.
This proved viable for many companies who did not have enough cash to donate to the program, but could supply products instead.
The festival saw participation from 20 enterprises who donated products for sale at large discounts to the public. Hoan Cau also helped cover the cost of hosting the fair.
Generous offers continued to roll in during the weeks leading up to the festival. Among the donations were wheelchairs and stationery worth VND16.5 million ($890) from the Dai Tin Bank. The bank also gave 5,000 gifts and 150 tons of rice worth VND3.3 billion ($178,000) to the program.
The Kinh Do Bakery, meanwhile, donated 400 gifts and the Hung Vuong Aquatic Products Co. gave 300 gifts.
Donations came even faster in the days immediately before the event kicked off. Tuong Lai Viet Media helped enormously by publicizing the event via live TV broadcast.
On the opening day January 28, the festival saw an outpouring of generosity from the public, and in particular from the fair’s main sponsor Hoan Cau Corp., which donated VND100 million ($5,400) to the charity fund.
A company representative attending the event said, “It is for the happiness of the poor during the Tet holidays. What a beautiful [endeavor]!” Thanks to tremendous support from the community, the SGGP shopping fair was a huge success.
