Yangcheon-gu Donates Ice Packs to Elderly Vulnerable to Heatwaves

Together with Yangcheon-gu Volunteer Center, the 'Ice Pack Hari (Hi, Reuse) Campaign'... Creating pouches filled with donated ice packs to deliver to heat-vulnerable groups and outdoor workers

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Have you ever heard the phrase "the paradox of COVID-19"?

As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) reduced people's usage and halted economic activities, it is said that, surprisingly, the Earth's ecosystem has temporarily recovered.

This might explain why the sky these days is clearer and cleaner than ever before.

In this way, a completely different daily life has unfolded due to COVID-19, and interest in the environment is gradually increasing.

Recently, as non-face-to-face grocery shopping became routine after the spread of COVID-19, the use of ice packs to maintain freshness has rapidly increased.

However, many ice packs are discarded after a single use, and their contents contain microplastics, which can cause water pollution.

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) proposed the idea of putting discarded ice packs into ice pack pouches made directly by residents and delivering them to vulnerable groups during heatwaves, and launched the "Ice Pack Hari (Hi, Reuse)" campaign.

From June 22 to July 10, over 1,500 ice packs were donated by residents, and volunteers filled the ice pack pouches they made and directly delivered them to the elderly.

Residents voluntarily donated ice packs, volunteers made the pouches, and the district office delivered them to the elderly, thereby practicing environmental protection and helping vulnerable groups during heatwaves together with the community?this threefold approach was the key to the success of the "Hari Campaign."

An elderly person met at Jangsu Park said, "I was very worried because this summer is unusually hot, but receiving a pouch made with colorful and pretty floral patterns eased my worries," adding with a broad smile, "Especially since the volunteers made the pouches by hand, I feel more affection."

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, mentioned the Green New Deal recently declared by President Moon, stating, "The COVID-19 pandemic has reaffirmed the urgency of responding to climate change. Yangcheon-gu will also accelerate various policies toward a new future for a low-carbon economy."

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