GREAT LOVE ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAITS

#Distribution of food, clothing and comforters to flood victims in Sanmen, Ninghai, Pan-an and Wenling.

#Construction of Tzu Chi Nursery Center in Jiaxing.

#Performance of 13 bone marrow transplants.

In August 1997, Typhoon Winnie caused serious damage in Taiwan and ravaged Zhejiang Province, China, with an even greater force. Rainstorms and violent waves hit towns and cities on the coastline, resulting in saponification of the soil and killing crops. Heavy rainfall in mountain areas also resulted in mountain torrents. Many victims were made homeless, their harvests were destroyed and they could not farm on the land for a long time.

Having inspected the disaster area twice, a Tzu Chi relief team arrived in December in the four most severely struck towns--Sanmen, Ninghai, Pan-an and Wenling--and distributed food, warm clothing and blankets to 115,000 victims. The distribution came just in time to let the victims enjoy a warm New Year.

During the distribution, local policemen on duty lent helping hands to volunteers. When the volunteers praised them for their kindness, they just nodded lightly and said, "We are learning from you." Chen Hua-chiao, the general manager of Yixiu Group, which manufactured the relief clothing and blankets at substantially lower profit margins, said, "The profit we earned this time is 'love'-there won't be any immediate income but it is a long-term deposit." Evidently, Tzu Chi not only brought relief materials to the local people, but also activated the Great Love within their hearts.

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