People shop at a “zero-đồng minimart” in HCM City’s Bình Thạnh District.  — VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hương

HCM CITY — Some 15,000 disadvantaged households are expected to benefit from a programme called “Zero-đồng minimart - Tết (Lunar New Year) 2024” being held in HCM City until January 27.

The municipal Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee in collaboration with the HCM City Association for Women Executives and Entrepreneurs (HAWEE) and other units on Wednesday (January 24) launched the programme at Bình Thạnh District’s Sports Centre.

With a total estimated budget of about VNĐ7.2 billion (US$291,310) mobilised from various sources, the programme provides more than 2,000 items of about 50 essential goods for daily use such as rice, milk, sugar, cakes and spices.

Each person will be able to shop at the mini supermarkets with a voucher worth VNĐ400,000 ($16).

The programme opens between 7am and 6pm from January 24 to 27.

It is taking place at six locations in Thủ Đức city and the districts of Bình Thạnh, Bình Tân and Hóc Môn, 7 and 10.

The first location is at Bình Thạnh District’s Sports Centre at No. 8 Phan Đăng Lưu for people in the districts of Bình Thạnh, Gò Vấp, Tân Bình, Phú Nhuận and 1.

The second one is at District 7’s Children's House, No. 193 on Street No. 30, taking care of people in the districts of 4, 7 and Nhà Bè.

The third location is at Bình Tân District’s Cultural and Sports Centre at No. 565 on Kinh Dương Vương Street, taking care of people in the districts of Tân Phú, Bình Tân, Bình Chánh and 6.

The fourth location is at Thủ Đức city’s Cultural Centre at No. 119 on Võ Văn Ngân Street for local people.

The fifth location is at Hóc Môn District’s Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee Building at No. 1 on Lý Nam Đế Street, taking care of people in the districts of Hóc Môn and 12.

The last location is at District 10’s Civil Mobilisation and Club Building at No. 20 Tam Đảo Street, taking care of people in the districts of 3, 5, 8, 10 and 11.

Phùng Thị Lan, 79, living in Bình Thạnh District, said she chose essential items such as fish sauce, noodles and sugar to use during Tết.

“I’m living with my child who became unemployed, so I am very, happy to receive this support with essential necessities," Lan said.

Phạm Minh Tuấn, vice chairman of the municipal Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee, said his programme aims at taking care of poor and disadvantaged families so they can have a warm and happy Tết, and spreading human values to the community.

It targets families and workers affected by the wave of job cuts amid an economic slump.

Many other programmes to care for the needy on the occasion of the upcoming Tết holiday will be organised from January 24 to February 2. — VNS