Yangcheon-gu Supports Seniors in Overcoming COVID-19 with a 'Cool' Summer Program

As In-Person Events Became Difficult Due to COVID-19, Initiatives for a Healthy Summer Include Support for Masks and Umbrellas, Food Delivery, and Plant Growing Kits

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced that it has prepared a ‘cool’ summer to help local elderly residents cope with the heat.

Every year, Yangcheon-gu operates elderly heat relief shelters at 18 locations including the district office and community service centers, and prepares special foods for the hottest days, implementing various measures to prevent heat-related damage.

However, due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation starting early this year, it became difficult to hold face-to-face events and operate indoor heat relief shelters this summer. Therefore, new support measures were devised to help the elderly have a healthy summer.

First, in Sinwol 1-dong, the ‘Elderly Food Sharing Promotion Committee’ decided to visit elderly residents living alone directly to deliver samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) and side dishes.

They announced that, using support funds from Korea Airports Corporation’s airport noise countermeasure area and sponsorship funds from local organizations, they will deliver samgyetang, galbitang (beef rib soup), kimchi, and fruits to about 300 vulnerable elderly residents in the area on July 16 and August 14. The delivery will be done in person with careful use of masks and gloves.

Along with this, the Sinwol 2-dong Community Security Council purchased 260 sunshades and umbrellas for heatwave prevention using council funds and directly handed them to elderly residents on July 8.

Additionally, they carried out the ‘Our Neighborhood Small Garden’ project for vulnerable elderly living alone and Nabinam (single men in their 40s and 50s), delivering fig tree cultivation kits that can be easily grown at home.

They have planned quarterly plant cultivation kit support projects with the hope of providing small comfort to elderly and Nabinam who are physically and mentally exhausted due to COVID-19, previously supporting companion bean sprout and mushroom kits.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “We have prepared various support measures hoping that vulnerable elderly residents enduring difficult times due to the prolonged COVID-19 will soothe their bodies and minds during the hot summer. We plan to continue expanding and promoting support projects so that the elderly can get through the heat healthily.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.