Topic Suwon Yeonmujung Cafeteria's Continued 12-Year 'Side Dish Volunteering'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Chung-young] "The volunteers at Suwon Yeonmujung Cafeteria are angels. They continuously and carefully prepare and deliver side dishes for elderly people like us. I cannot express enough gratitude."

This is the words of an elderly resident living alone in Haenggung-dong while receiving side dishes from Yeonmujung Cafeteria.

In February 2012, six volunteers who shared the same archery hobby at Suwon Yeonmujung (archery range) prepared a small commercial space of about 5 pyeong and began side dish sharing volunteer service, marking the birth of Suwon Yeonmujung Cafeteria (Representative Lee Eung-ja).

In the early days, the cafeteria delivered boxed meals to vulnerable groups and elderly residents in the area who had difficulty preparing food due to mobility issues. One week's worth of side dishes were prepared and delivered directly to about 10 people once a week (every Tuesday).

The composition of side dishes has remained unchanged from the beginning until now, consisting of approximately 6 types including soup, meat, and kimchi as staples, with seasonal foods prepared accordingly. On holidays such as Lunar New Year and Chuseok, Daeboreum (First Full Moon), Parents' Day, sambok (summer dog days), and kimjang season, special meals are prepared to somewhat fill the emptiness in the hearts of elderly people living alone.

At the center of this effort are Chairperson Yi Yoo-young (71) and his family. As a result of continuing volunteer work with the original spirit for 12 years, the number of beneficiaries has now increased tenfold, providing side dishes to 100 vulnerable people once a week.

Chairperson Yi's family has consistently donated over 1 million won monthly to the cafeteria, with cumulative donations exceeding 100 million won to date. As a result, the cafeteria received a plaque of appreciation from the Honor Society last year. The cumulative donations from fellow cafeteria members who share the same vision have also exceeded 400 million won.

Representative Lee Eung-ja stated, "We have improved the quality of side dishes prepared at the cafeteria, and have also acquired baking skills to prepare bread as special treats," while noting that volunteer activities continued without interruption even when COVID-19 was rampant. Additionally, she added that surveys are conducted with beneficiaries to prepare healthier foods that are more preferred.

Currently, organizations participating in weekly cafeteria cooking volunteer work include: △First week, Maesan Elementary School Alumni Association under Volunteer Chair Yang Hyung-seok and about 20 others △Second week, Special Service Meritorious Persons Association Gyeonggi Branch under Branch Director Lee Han-yong and 15 others △Third week, Suwon Gyegae-dong Community Center Representative Council under Chair Lee Ji-hyun and 15 others △Fourth week, International Rotary 3750 District Suwon Pigeon Rotary Club under Chair Kim Jin-kyung and about 10 others △Fifth week, Suwon Women's High School Alumni Association Green Grape Association under Chair Song Kyung-ran and about 20 others, along with the original 6 members who started the cafeteria, totaling about 90 volunteers participating in the Yeonmujung Cafeteria volunteer work.

Visiting the homes of 100 elderly people weekly at scheduled times and delivering side dishes requires significant manpower. In addition to cafeteria members, employees from the Suwon Office of the Gyeonggi Provincial Statistics Bureau have been participating in delivery volunteer service for several years, and community centers in Haenggung-dong and Gyegae-dong are also actively involved.

Food material costs account for a large portion of the cafeteria's operating budget, and financial support such as gift certificates from Statistics Bureau Suwon Office employees has been of great help.

On the Tuesday of the first week of May this year, which is the day before Parents' Day, especially heartfelt side dishes were prepared. Mugwort-filled rice cake (ssuk-beomuri), which can only be tasted during this time and evokes nostalgic memories in the elderly, along with steamed pork ribs, japchae, nabak kimchi, and skewered meat are being prepared.

Last month, Paldal-gu (District Chief Kim Ki-bae) replaced old water heaters and stoves, enabling side dishes to be prepared in a better environment.

Representative Lee Eung-ja of Suwon Yeonmujung Cafeteria expressed gratitude, stating "While there has been much help from various sectors including the Gyeonggi Provincial Volunteer Center, what is most important is that the volunteers directly participating in side dish preparation are the greatest source of strength."

She continued, "We will continue to make efforts to help elderly people living alone have healthy lives," and added, "I especially feel grateful to Chairperson Yi Yoo-young, who has continuously volunteered since the early days in 2012 to the present, Representative Shin Jae-kyung of the Andamiro Volunteer Association, members Kong Chang-gyeom, Gwon Gyeong-geun, Moon Sik, and Lee Gye-suk."