What’s the story behind Seongbuk-gu Anam-dong residents celebrating the birthdays of elderly living alone for 8 years?

Since 2014, 'Lighting the Candle of Love' Continues, Delivering Birthday Tables to Elderly Living Alone... Anam-dong Volunteer Camp, Residents' Autonomy Committee, and Community Social Security Council Promote Local Community Cooperation

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to cause difficulties for vulnerable groups, a heartwarming story has emerged about residents of Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro), who have been preparing birthday meals for elderly people living alone for eight years.

The "Lighting the Candle of Love" program, run by the Anam-dong Volunteer Camp, was first launched in 2014 to care for low-income elderly individuals who spend their birthdays alone.

Until 2019, volunteers prepared the birthday tables and celebrated together at the local community center, but since last year, due to COVID-19, the program has shifted to delivering birthday meal sets directly to the seniors' homes, establishing itself as a signature camp program.

On the 29th of last month, the event was held for 10 households of elderly people receiving basic living subsidies who either have no caregivers or are estranged from their families. For seniors who usually have no contact with family and spend their birthdays alone, volunteers personally delivered birthday meal gifts consisting of 15 items including bulgogi, seaweed soup, side dishes, fruit, rice cakes, and quarantine supplies, sharing warm affection.

Volunteers worked in pairs, adhering to quarantine guidelines such as wearing masks and social distancing, while delivering the birthday meals and checking on the seniors’ health and well-being.

This event was organized by the Anam-dong Volunteer Camp with cooperation from the Residents’ Autonomy Committee, the Community Security Council, and Anam Daycare Center. In celebration of Family Month, children at Anam Daycare Center specially prepared carnations and birthday cards to convey the community’s warm love.

One senior who received the birthday meal said, “Due to COVID-19, I have been spending more time alone at home without meeting neighbors often, which made me feel lonely. I am grateful for being cared for on my birthday every year despite being alone,” with tears in their eyes.

Choi Bong-sook, head of the Anam-dong Volunteer Camp, shared her thoughts, saying, “This has been a time for local residents to come together with warm hearts and sincerity to comfort and bring joy to seniors going through difficult times alone due to COVID-19.”

Meanwhile, the Anam-dong Volunteer Camp announced that through this project, they plan to care for about 60 seniors in six sessions throughout the year.

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