The man who does the work no one wants

Funeral service

One early morning, before the sun had even risen, the phone in Mai Khanh coffin shop suddenly rang. On the other end of the line, a representative of the An Bien Commune Red Cross Society reported: “A lonely old man just passed away near the Tuesday market…” Without hesitation, Mr. Khanh replied briefly: “The family can rest assured that I will take care of it.” Then, he and his brothers in the shop quickly loaded the coffin and burial items onto the truck, taking care of the funeral for the deceased. “I sell coffins, but when someone dies without a coffin to lie in, my heart aches! So, I promised myself that I would help anyone who is truly in difficulty,” Mr. Khanh confided.

Mr. Mai Hoang Khanh cleans the charity ambulance. Photo: BAO TRAN

Not only taking care of funerals for people, Mr. Khanh's charity ambulance is also a "bridge of life" for many poor patients. Mr. Pham Minh Tri, living in Hamlet 2, An Bien Commune, emotionally said: "My mother had stomach cancer and often went to the hospital. Thanks to Mr. Hai Khanh's ambulance, my family was able to take her to the doctor and receive treatment for a long time. When my mother passed away, Mr. Hai Khanh drove her home without taking a single penny. Even though my mother is no longer here, I am forever grateful to him. Every now and then, I send him some gas so he can continue to help others."

His hurried steps and trips regardless of day or night have become familiar to the people here. Mr. Khanh bought a charity ambulance in 2015. The phone number is posted on the body of the vehicle, posted on social networks and linked with the Red Cross for easy contact. Since then, the charity trips have traveled many roads, sometimes taking patients to Can Tho City and the provinces of Dong Thap, Vinh Long...

Volunteering with meaning and affection

Recalling an unforgettable memory, Mr. Khanh said that once he drove a poor man who worked as a hired rice cutter in An Bien commune to Can Tho city to be hospitalized, following his wish to be treated near his hometown. The man had high blood pressure, bleeding gums while driving, had to urinate continuously, and had to stop the car in front of people's houses many times. "I kept driving and apologizing to the people. When I got there, the family collected a few hundred thousand dong and gave it to me, but I refused to accept it. They kept crying and thanking me, which made me extremely emotional," Mr. Khanh recalled.

Many times, he even used his own money to support poor patients who could not afford hospital fees or food. "Some people called to say thank you and tell stories about their recovery. I felt very happy," Mr. Khanh confided. We asked Mr. Khanh why he could work for free for so many years. He smiled and said: "I live so that when I die, people will still remember me with kindness and love. Helping others is also blessing my children and grandchildren. Every time I help someone, I am very happy. In the future, I will continue to do it, and I hope to have more brothers join me so that charity can spread more and more."

Mr. Huynh Van Nhan - former Chairman of the Red Cross Society of Thu Ba town, An Bien district (old) commented: “Over the past 10 years, Mai Khanh coffin shop has provided a lot of support to the people. When a single person dies, no one takes care of them, Mr. Khanh takes care of everything from coffins, burial items, to burial. He is also the first person to implement a charity ambulance model in the locality, serving the poor wholeheartedly. That work is very meaningful and is wholeheartedly appreciated by the people.”

In the eyes of An Bien people, Mr. Khanh is not only a coffin seller but also a person who sows the seeds of a decent life. The free rides and meaningful coffins have eased the pain of many families, contributed to the solidarity of the village and the neighborhood, and spread the simple beauty in life.

BAO TRAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nguoi-dan-ong-lo-viec-khong-ai-muon-a462759.html