Energy supply of Charity Organization - Lo Chen-hsing

In the midst of the peddling noises, a bright voice is heard to peddle his fish to the customers.  In the morning, he is one of the bosses in the fish market, while in the afternoon, he is a volunteer firefighter.  What’s more, he is also a volunteer and council member in Chia-yi Charity Organization.

When it comes to Mr. Zhen Hsin Luo, it started from the phase when he was in the army.  In the beginning, he belonged to the second special arms.  Unlike today’s one-year army service, it took three years to finish army service at that time.  Since he had a blind old mother and several young siblings in school support, his supervisor applied for him to the authority to leave the army earlier.

At that time Supervisor Yang was the very helper in his life.  In the army, Supervisor Yang always reminded him to do something good to the society in return, and be a good man.  By the time when he was thinking about how to repay the society after leaving the army, Chief Lu, his mentor, introduced him to Chia-yi Charity Organization.

Lo Chen-hsing
(Source: photographed by the team)

In the beginning in the group, he did such simple and tough chores as carrying gravel or sand bags. As time passed by, so his experience broadened.  It was not difficult anymore for him to operate the machine.  Everything got more smoothly with him in the group.

Before long, he found that food was a big problem in the group.  It was also the problem to the residents nearby the workplace.  After all, there were hundreds of people living on the organization.  The expense was huge.  Therefore, despite the other people’s objection, he and some of the other members organized a meals group.

The target of the meal group was to keep the charity volunteers from starving.  Meanwhile, it also solved the residents’ big problem.  Many of the residents didn’t ask Charity Organization for help for fear that the expense should be a large amount of money.  Every week, Charity Organization would supply meals, which were paid by Mr. Luo, costing him NT$5000 dollars each time, and sometimes even over ten thousand.  From the past to now, he has spent at least over one hundred thousand dollars.  However hard it was, the meals were offered constantly. Even when the food price surged because of natural disaster, the quality and quantity of the meals still remained the same.

Lo Chen-hsing
(Source: photographed by the team)

In spite of his low salary, plus the above-mentioned expense, only a small amount of money was left for himself and his family.  However, with his family’s support and Ms. Luo’s income, they still can make the ends meet, so he can do good deeds without worries behind.  For this reason, people around him were touched by his enthusiasm and perseverance and joined the charity to do good deeds together.  He appreciated his friends’ help, his family’s support and his mentor’s ushering in.  Without them, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to repay the society. Now he expects that the charity group can expand and grow stronger so that they can do more good deeds and do more service.

The interview record:

Prepare foods
(Source: Chia-yi City Chia-yi Charity Organization)

Q:Why did you dare to organize the meal group despite the otherpeople’s objection?

A:In the past, a large number of people joined Charity Organization, which were offered meals by local people.  However, every time, there were about one or two hundred people joining the activity, so it was very difficult to figure out how much food they need.  Later it was said that no one dared to apply for bridge building for the sake of the great quantity of meals.  Therefore, I insisted on establishing the meal group so that the original target of the organization wouldn’t perish.

Q:Could you please state some interesting experiences while
purchasing vegetables or cooking meterial?  It is believed that for
so many years’ purchasing experience, there must be something
interesting worth laughing.

A view of work
(Source: photographed by the team)

A:Something interesting?  Of course there were.  For example,
whenever I purchased cooking meterial, I would tell the boss that
this was for charity, so please kindly discount the price.  The boss
would charge me less, or gave me some more giveaway.

Q:Why did you insist on doing something good to the society in
return?  Were you inspired by something?  Or were you
enlightened by someone?

Eating the food
(Source: photographed by the team)

A:It originated from the time when I was on army service.  At that time, we had a supervisor called Sir Yang.  He and me hit it off.  He told me a great conception that people should repay the society in the future.  For this reason, I had not stopped thinking about how to repay the society after leaving the army until I joined Charity Organization. Till now, I still keep in touch with Sir Yang, who is very pleased that I have implemented this virtue.  Another key person is Sir Hsu, who was a conductor.  He also told me the same concept, but we didn’t keep in touch.  In a word, the impetus of doing good deeds attributes to the two supervisors as well as friends.

Q:In the wake of economic recession, is it lucrative by selling fish?
You have a family to support, how can you make two ends meet?
Have you ever figured out how much you have spent since you
joined Charity Organization?

A view of work
(Source: photographed by the team)

A:Actually we still can keep body and soul together.  Thanks to my wife’s additional income, we live within our means.  Although we don’t have much money left, we lived happily.  As for how much I have spent since I joined the organization, I have no idea.  Briefly speaking, it is about millions of dollars, which can buy a house.  However, since I was determined to do good deeds, it is meaningless to figure out the money, is it?

Q:Did your family support you joining Charity Organization and
Donating so much money?  What’s more, you spent half a day in
the organization every week. Is it ok for your family?

A:Of course my family support me totally.  Otherwise, why can I
have been doing it till now?  Of course, I feel grateful to my
family’s support.  They made me carefree doing good deeds till
now.

Q:As far as I have known, you are also a volunteer firefighter.
Would you like to share your experience with us?

A:Frankly speaking, it is not a big deal.  However, when there is a
fire, it takes courage to rush into the fire house. Most of all, it takes
calmness to keep aware and cautious.  It’s not easy to do so.  If
the fire occurs to the house in the small alley, it’s tougher and more
troublesome.

Q:How did you generalize your ideal and inspire the other people to
join you?

A:Of course I play my own part well firstly.  In the beginning, I introduced in detail about Chia-yi Charity Organization to others so that they could understand it is a good organization implementing good deeds.  Then I invited some people to visit this organization.  Most important of all, I myself did it firstly, and they would be willing to join me and follow suit.

Q:Excuse me, how about the development and status of the people you guided?  Is there anyone dropping out of the organization on the midway?

A:Yes, but not many.  Most people have been working here till now, and those who dropped out of the organization were for some helpless reasons, but not because of unwillingness.

A view of work
(Source: Chia-yi City Chia-yi Charity Organization website)

Q:Could you share your reflection of joining Charity Organization? Do you enjoy your job?

A:It was from the bottom of my heart to join the organization. I have been very glad to join the organization.  Every day I expect Sunday to come because I enjoy doing good deeds.  According to Buddhism, people should do good deeds for the preparation of their afterlife. Joining the organization has become one important part in my life.

Q:How do you regard the Charity Organization?

A:In fact, Charity Organization has become one part of my life.  It makes my life more colorful and fulfilled.  If I had not joined the organization, I could have been a very common middle-aged man.  Now I think I can’t live without Charity Organization.

Q:Do you have any expectation from the Charity Organization?

A:Expectation?  Since the members in the organization are old, I hope young people can join us to make this organization more vivid and refreshed.

(Reference resources: Personal interview and written by our group after the research)