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KAOHSIUNG DISASTER: Volunteers dedicate time in efforts to help blast victims
By Fang Chih-hsien and Huang Shu-lei / Staff reporters
Volunteers in Greater Kaohsiung on Sunday massage a man who was affected by underground gas pipeline explosions in the city last week.
Photo: Chang Chung-yi, Taipei Times
With resources from across the nation pouring into shelters set up for people affected by the Greater Kaohsiung gas pipeline explosions, a number of volunteers have been seen helping in the aid effort.
Among them is Chao Cheng-hao (趙丞浩), 30, who left his job at a clothing store two months ago and is currently unemployed.
Saying that he wanted to use his time to do something meaningful, he decided to do volunteer work and, after the disaster, he started helping at a shelter set up for people affected by the blasts.
He said he only slept for three hours during the first three days he spent there, without even having time to change the soiled T-shirt he wore on the first day.
Now donning a brand-new T-shirt presented to him by charity groups, Chao said yesterday: “It feels great to help others.”
Ko Hui-ling (柯惠玲), 59, helps source accommodation for people at a temporary shelter set up at Kaohsiung Municipal Chung-cheng Industrial High School.
Despite having a 10cm thyroid goiter on her neck, she said her determination to help people is not undermined by her appearance.
“On the contrary, it motivates me to immerse myself in crowds,” she said.
Lee Chieh-ling (李婕寧), an owner of a fabric factory in China, said that upon learning about the tragedy via Facebook, she immediately rushed back to Taiwan and and drove to a shelter at Kaohsiung Municipal Wuchuan Elementary School, where she is now helping take care of people affected by the blasts.
“What moved me the most was that more than 2,000 university students volunteered to help,” she said, adding that many parents have also come with their children to help with the relief effort.
source: Taipei Times
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