New “rice ATM” set up in HCMC to support locals amid COVID-19

PSNews – A new rice ATM was set up in Thanh Loc Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) to distribute rice to locals in need, as the forth outbreak of COVID-19 triggers new social distancing rules in the locality.

The rice ATM, located at Bong Sen Kindergarten in District 12, has an initial amount of 1 ton of rice, which is expected to benefit about 500 people.

The new rice ATM model has technically been improved so its operation is smoother and more efficient.

According to Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh, the author of the “rice ATM”, this free rice distribution program was endorsed and supported by the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association (VYEA).

“We hope to mobilize a few more hundred tons of rice to support people in the COVID-19-hit localities”, he said.

In addition to the stationary rice ATM, Mr. Tuan Anh is also planning to create mobile rice ATMs to serve the people.

Since the first rice ATM installed in HCMC on April 7, 2020, 100 rice ATMs have been installed across Vietnam and some other countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, with a total amount of over 3,000 tons of rice provided to people in need.

By An Nhien

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