National Open University professor Chu Huai-ching (朱懷清) spearheaded an online campaign to order zongzi (粽子, glutinous rice dumplings) from a family vendor in Hsinchu County after finding out that the family was in financial difficulties. Chua said he hopes that the combined effort through the Internet would help support the family.
The 70-year-old Kuo Chen Chun (郭陳春) started selling the traditional treat of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves a decade ago, when her husband passed away, to help augment the income from her son, Kuo Chien-li (郭建利), who opened a grocery store at the same time.
Kuo Chen Chun said they were graced with customers who supported their small business, adding that they had also helped spread the word about her zongzi.
Photo: Tsai Chang-sheng, Taipei Times
However, the 51-year-old Kuo Chien-li recently suffered a stroke and subsequent medical bills imposed a great financial burden on the family, which also affected her business, Kuo Chen Chun said.
The family’s mortgage is still unpaid and their bank had even called the family notifying them of an impending repossession, Kuo Chen Chun said, adding that she had been forced to sell off equipment used to make zongzi and was taking in bottles to be sold at recycling stations to cover day-to-day expenses.
Chu, who met the family when intending to buy some zongzi, learned of their plight and launched a campaign to help clear out their house, which was filled with bottles and other recyclables, as well as purchasing tools for making zongzi.
He also asked netizens to start making orders to help augment the family’s income.
Kuo Chen Chun said that she did not expect her story to move others and had not asked for donations, saying: “After all, it is my life.”
She said that as long she was able to keep making zongzi, she would be able to make enough money to cover her son’s rehabilitation costs, adding that seeing her son being able to help her wash the bamboo leaves to wrap the zongzi was enough for her.
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