The time of year for giving

The time of year for giving

It is again the end of year drive for the Vietnam Healing Foundation to raise funds for the crippled and aging ARVN soldiers still living under discrimination and in utter poverty in Viet Nam. For any who have not heard from us in the past, please go to www.thevhf.org to learn about this charity, which is run 100% by volunteers and has an operating cost of about 3%.  About the only costs we incur are for transferring the funds to Viet Nam and arranging for distribution by hand messenger to the needy families. These men were all treated very badly at the war's end by the victorious communists, who not only sent them to "re-education" camps or "new economic zones", but made them subject to various restrictions that limit what work they can do, where they can live, and  others that are calculated to keep them in deep poverty.  The restrictions extend to their children and grandchildren, making them visible symbols of the vindictiveness of the communists against men whose only crime was to try to defend their own country in the name of freedom. By now, most of these men are past the age where they can do any real work, and either try to sell lottery tickets on the streets, or live as dependents of their children, thus continuing their near starvation poverty.  The money we send them goes mainly for food and medicine, and makes their lives just a bit more bearable.  You will never get a more direct benefit result from any contribution you can make. You can mail checks or money orders to: Vietnam Healing Foundation P.O Box 641 Willow Springs, NC 27592 Or go to the website and use PayPal.  Every $10 we receive will go a long way in buying rice in Viet Nam. Thank you for your consideration.  And have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. --R J Del Vecchio, Chairman, VHF