Relief Distributions

(Translated by Douglas Shaw)

Chinese version

The Abode of Still Thoughts holds a relief distribution for the poor on the twenty-fourth of each month on the lunar calendar. For many years, Master Cheng Yen has led her disciples and lay followers in expanding their mission of compassionately saving the world in order to provide the best care for the poor, sick, elderly, widowed and orphaned.

On the day of the distribution, volunteers from all over Taiwan come to serve the elderly and the needy by cutting, washing and perming their hair and trimming their nails. Physicians and nurses from the family medicine department of the Tzu Chi General Hospital come to give examinations, take blood pressure, and distribute medicine. In the morning, the nuns of the Abode lead people under Tzu Chi's care in devoutly reciting the Medicine Buddha Sutra, dedicating the merits thus earned to all living beings. After that, they invite everyone to lunch. After lunch, relief supplies are distributed in the great hall. After chanting the name of Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, commissioners call the names of those to receive relief supplies or financial subsidies. If a person is unable to receive the distribution on that day, he or she can pick it up from social workers another day, or else commissioners will deliver it during a home visit.

All Tzu Chi offices in Taiwan and abroad also hold distribution activities. In many places, commissioners personally deliver relief goods to the homes of the needy.

Each year before Chinese New Year, Tzu Chi also holds a "winter distribution." The first winter distribution took place on February 9, 1969. Money, comforters, clothes and rice, as well as a vegetarian banquet, were provided for long-term care recipients. On January 30, 1970, the first distribution was held at the newly completed Abode of Still Thoughts. After that, the winter distribution held in the twelfth month of every year on the lunar calendar became a day when Tzu Chi people and recipients of the foundation's care could gather together at the banquet tables. Master Cheng Yen instructed volunteers to carefully wrap up the goods to be distributed. Clothes and daily necessities were to be piled neatly, and all the air was to be squeezed out of each bag so that the bag would not break easily. As for the banquet, the Master personally saw to it that there was plenty of delicious food. This was all done in order to concretely show sincere respect for the recipients of Tzu Chi's care.