Testimonials from the “Helping the Housing-Vulnerable Get Through Summer” Support Campaign

A Cooler Summer in the Shantytown Thanks to Our Donors’ Generosity

“Thanks to the electric fan you gave me, my body will dry off quickly now, even after I take a shower.”

On the day when the warm-hearted generosity of our donors brought a cool breeze into the elderly resident’s damp little room,

Mr. Kwon  shared these words, seeming a bit shy.

The senior’s home was a basement room accessible only by descending a flight of stairs.

With no separate bathroom, it was a cramped space where he had to shower in the kitchen—the very room he entered upon coming home.

The tiny room right next to it was his only living space, and a small window blocked by a wall was his only source of ventilation.

As a result, rainwater seeping in and the resulting humidity plagued the elderly resident throughout the summer.

Even after washing up in the kitchen—since there was no bathroom—the moisture in the room made it difficult for her to dry off,

but as soon as the electric fan, a gift from a donor, began to spin, a bright smile spread across her face.

“Can I open it right away?” she asked, unwrapping the box with a childlike look of excitement.

It seemed as though the warmth of the people who had come to visit her was even more welcome than the breeze from the fan, 

as she chatted cheerfully with us for a long time.

The situation was much the same at the home of Ms. Heo 00, who lives at the top of a steep flight of stairs.

“It’s been so hot at night lately that I’ve been going up to the rooftop to try to sleep,” the senior said.

As the heat had recently intensified, he had barely managed to borrow an air cooler from a friend.

The moment the fan was taken out of the box, the senior repeatedly expressed his overwhelming gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much.”

Now, she no longer has to go up to the rooftop every night and can rest peacefully inside her home.

There was also an elderly person with no family who, due to severe rheumatoid arthritis, couldn’t even go outside and had to endure the stifling heat inside the house all alone.

As a cool breeze began to blow from the newly assembled fan, the senior couldn’t take their eyes off it, exclaiming, “It’s so, so cool.”

Through this “Cool Summer” campaign, a total of 38 vulnerable seniors received cooling fans.

The generosity shown by our donors went far beyond simply donating a single appliance.

It brought comfort to the daily lives of those living in dark basement rooms where not even a breeze could enter through the windows,

it offered warm care to the elderly living alone at the top of steep staircases,

and it provided tender comfort to the elderly who had been enduring pain and heat all by themselves.

We sincerely thank our donors for bringing a cool breeze to the seniors’ stifling daily lives

and for giving them the opportunity to express their gratitude for being remembered and visited.

We will continue to provide warmth and support 

to ensure that the seniors can stay healthy and safe throughout the summer, even amid the seasonal heat.