Farangs in Chiang Mai help desperate Thais after handouts fail to arrive

[webfact]

Farangs in Chiang Mai help desperate Thais after handouts fail to arrive

 

Picture: Chiang Mai News

 

A group of farang residents in Chiang Mai have been praised for helping the Thais in their hour of need. 

 

Chiang Mai News reported that the tipping point for their actions in doling out hundreds of kilos of rice and dry goods was news that many people had failed to get their promised 5,000 baht handouts from the government. 

 

And people were turning to pawn shops to sell vital items just so they could put food on the table. 

 

Dave N. 72, an Australian pensioner, and his Thai wife Vatinee, 48, were the driving force behind the charity. 

 

They inspired friends to dig deep and contribute money for items like rice, sardines and fish sauce.

 

A stall was set up by the road near a pawn shop in downtown Muang district.

 

Others in the group handed out donations to foundations looking after children and the elderly.

 

Vatinee's Facebook post got a lot of positive comments in Chiang Mai social media circles. 

 

Dave refused to be interviewed saying he and his friends didn't do it for recognition. But his wife said that he felt good after making the handouts and wanted to do it again when his next pension check came. 

 

Next time they would go out in the countryside to hand out much needed supplies to the poor and suffering.

 

Source: Chiang Mai News

 

 

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Picture: Chiang Mai News

[happysoul]

Very nice to see such actions.

To improve even more the helping side, the groceries could be bought in some small shop or local rice seller. You could then help 2 times, first when you buy and second when you donate (as Macro is making huge money these days anyway).

Please, don't see this as a negative comment, your action is top notch.

Cheers

[OnTheGround]

All positive news about foreigners, are good news.

Many restaurants with foreign owner, has already given out free food in Pattaya, without making the headlines.

Happy for the good public news.

[colinneil]

Well done Dave, good to see farangs doing their bit to help.

Many farangs around the country doing similar, well done folks.

 

[Kullstar]

Anyone forwarded this to Anutins department? 

Well done guys,  we are all doing the same down in Samui, amazing response. ????????

[colinneil]

12 minutes ago, Kullstar said:

Anyone forwarded this to Anutins department? 

Well done guys,  we are all doing the same down in Samui, amazing response. ????????

Best keep quiet about it mate, if it was forwarded to Anutin, he would advice Thais not to eat the food given so kindly by dirty farangs.????

[chrisandsu]

Great to see this . Hopefully he won’t be in the line too when his pension doesn’t come through because his home country is defaulting . 

[scorecard]

13 minutes ago, chrisandsu said:

Great to see this . Hopefully he won’t be in the line too when his pension doesn’t come through because his home country is defaulting . 

I got the reaction wrong, it should be the 'sad' face. Sad because someone had to write such a nasty comment.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, happysoul said:

Very nice to see such actions.
To improve even more the helping side, the groceries could be bought in some small shop or local rice seller. You could then help 2 times, first when you buy and second when you donate (as Macro is making huge money these days anyway).
Please, don't see this as a negative comment, your action is top notch.
Cheers

Would point out 45Kg bags of rice from the small shops work out much cheaper per kilogram, around a 20% saving.

[Relocated]

I took advice of TVF commenters and told bye to my Thai lady but sent her 3,400 BT two weeks ago for her birthday. She hasn't picked up the money yet. I don't think all Thai is that desperate.   

[Matzzon]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Dave refused to be interviewed saying he and his friends didn't do it for recognition

I do not know if it´s Dave on the picture above in the news, but if so they just couldn´t respect his request.

Anyway, Cheers to Dave and his wife as well as all others that jumped in and made this possible. Good Job!

[OneeyedJohn]

To do such a thing in a big city like Chiang Mai is a fantastic gesture.  Good on 'im.

 

I live further north near Chiang Rai, and the recent storm we had was so severe almost everybody is out helping each other to rebuild and repair roofs everywhere.

I am a victim so am having to pay out a daily wage to several people to do the work.

 

Every little bit helps.

[sapson]

Fantastic well done those guys!!

 

Perhaps when immigration officers are making life as awkward as possible with needless endless document requests they should think about brilliant gestures like this.

[lexilis]

9 minutes ago, Retarded said:

I took advice of TVF commenters and told bye to my Thai lady but sent her 3,400 BT two weeks ago for her birthday. She hasn't picked up the money yet. I don't think all Thai is that desperate.   

You are not lying about your nym! First you "took the advice of TV commenters" and second you make generalization that "all Thais are (not) desperate" based on sample of exactly one.

[hugolars]

I could be harsh by my opinion is that these are mere gestures without any what so ever effect to do any difference to the situation.

Some would say its better than nothing but i think that these actions do more harm than good.
The starving people must turn their attention to the government to come up with long term solution instead of standing in line begging for food from local citizens and foreigners. I thought the proud thai and their government would not accept charity from strangers. Instead the should be standing outside government buildings demanding their rights.
These farangs and thais buy them self happiness with some bags of rice and eggs but for how long can they do that? A week? Two weeks?

People are starving it nothing on the horizon indicate any improvment. Hungry people might come back and can turn aggressive if you turn them back so what do you do then mr farang?
There is so much worse misery in the world so do you think that you bag of rice do any difference think again. It's arrogant to think that you have done any difference with this "charity". If it makes you feel good then think again on why you are doing it.
Don't mean to offend  anybody but this is the reality.

[Zikomat]

Thais will accept anything if it is for free (even rice which Thailand has more and cheaper than anywhere in the whole world). Some cash for booze and gambling would be much more appreciated, Dave.

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

9 minutes ago, hugolars said:

The starving people must turn their attention to the government to come up with long term solution instead of standing in line begging for food from local citizens and foreigners. I thought the proud thai and their government would not accept charity from strangers. Instead the should be standing outside government buildings demanding their rights.

Difficult to be holier than thou when your kids are dying from hunger.

[AussieBob18]

Good to see - more good stories like this about Farangs will not be bad.

There is one in my wife's home village who has a market garden and he/wife grow and sell lots of vegetables at markets.

Now they harvest every 3-4 days and take it all to the village and give it away.

And not one Thai takes more than he/she needs for their family.

Another wealthy Thai is also doing the same by buying non-food items and giving them away.

 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Retarded said:

I took advice of TVF commenters and told bye to my Thai lady but sent her 3,400 BT two weeks ago for her birthday. She hasn't picked up the money yet. I don't think all Thai is that desperate.   

...picked up....?

[hugolars]

5 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Difficult to be holier than thou when your kids are dying from hunger.

yes

[scorecard]

17 minutes ago, hugolars said:

I could be harsh by my opinion is that these are mere gestures without any what so ever effect to do any difference to the situation.

Some would say its better than nothing but i think that these actions do more harm than good.
The starving people must turn their attention to the government to come up with long term solution instead of standing in line begging for food from local citizens and foreigners. I thought the proud thai and their government would not accept charity from strangers. Instead the should be standing outside government buildings demanding their rights.
These farangs and thais buy them self happiness with some bags of rice and eggs but for how long can they do that? A week? Two weeks?

People are starving it nothing on the horizon indicate any improvment. Hungry people might come back and can turn aggressive if you turn them back so what do you do then mr farang?
There is so much worse misery in the world so do you think that you bag of rice do any difference think again. It's arrogant to think that you have done any difference with this "charity". If it makes you feel good then think again on why you are doing it.
Don't mean to offend  anybody but this is the reality.

 No it's not the reality.

 

Yes the Thai government, in a perfect world, should be taking care of it's people, but we don't live in a perfect world. Has the USA, and many other countries, been perfect and balanced in their response? The answer is NO>

 

Of course there is poverty in many parts of the world but that doesn't mean that helping a little locally in the area where you live is wrong, it's basic care and concern even if we can't continue the help longer-term.

 

Much of what you write is incorrect, is just ill-intent and bashing.

[covpete1]

Thais should be protesting outside government buildings...? These handouts make no difference?? What an absolute load of <deleted> some people talk! 

 

 

[ChaiyaTH]

25 minutes ago, Zikomat said:

Thais will accept anything if it is for free (even rice which Thailand has more and cheaper than anywhere in the whole world). Some cash for booze and gambling would be much more appreciated, Dave.

Have to agree partly, I think many just do it because they can get it for free. Same with the meals. I mean, jesus, it is like we are in a war or tsunami for months while in reality people have been without work for less than a month in total. Imagine what a real disaster would do then.

Know quite a few of the Thais getting free meals since day 1 in CM, while they had no rent due and money in the bank for luxury coffee from Graph cafe.
Basically you would have people in long queues on any given day by handing out free food or money to Thais. Morals & Ethics don't exist here.

[Grumpy John]

23 minutes ago, hugolars said:

I could be harsh by my opinion is that these are mere gestures without any what so ever effect to do any difference to the situation.

Some would say its better than nothing but i think that these actions do more harm than good.
The starving people must turn their attention to the government to come up with long term solution instead of standing in line begging for food from local citizens and foreigners. I thought the proud thai and their government would not accept charity from strangers. Instead the should be standing outside government buildings demanding their rights.
These farangs and thais buy them self happiness with some bags of rice and eggs but for how long can they do that? A week? Two weeks?

People are starving it nothing on the horizon indicate any improvment. Hungry people might come back and can turn aggressive if you turn them back so what do you do then mr farang?
There is so much worse misery in the world so do you think that you bag of rice do any difference think again. It's arrogant to think that you have done any difference with this "charity". If it makes you feel good then think again on why you are doing it.
Don't mean to offend  anybody but this is the reality.

I think your being very mean hearted.   I'd rather get a bit of help from the Dave's of the world than some pompous or arrogant religious organisation that siphons of 90% of donations.   The poor people in the community can get breakfast at the wat but they still need lunch and dinner.  And maybe the dirty farang helping Thai's on TV news may embarrass the government just enough to get some soup kitchens on the ground.   I am not my brothers keeper but I sure can share a loaf of bread with him in his time of need. 

[EricTh]

All I see is ONE farang and not a group of farangs giving donations. He did say he's waiting for his next pension cheque

 

Or did I miss something?

[baansgr]

31 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Difficult to be holier than thou when your kids are dying from hunger.

Nobody in Thailand is dying of hunger. They may have to eat rice and fish sauce instead of KFC or Pizza but this isn't drought stricken Africa. Food is plentiful in Thailand and a meal can be made for a few baht

[Tropposurfer]

Good on ya  cobber ????????

[Zikomat]

1 minute ago, baansgr said:

Nobody in Thailand is dying of hunger. They may have to eat rice and fish sauce instead of KFC or Pizza but this isn't drought stricken Africa. Food is plentiful in Thailand and a meal can be made for a few baht

The ones who might really need some help are the lonely farangs in Pattaya and BKK who are probably on overstay without families and friends to help them. But you will not get social media and other publicity by helping these people. 

[Assurancetourix]

2 hours ago, Kullstar said:

Anyone forwarded this to Anutins department? 

Well done guys,  we are all doing the same down in Samui, amazing response. ????????

We (my Thai wife and I) do the same in our village in Isaan with our very modest means.
And I am sure that many farangs do the same without it being in the newspapers or on Facebook.
On my side it wouldn't risk being on Facebook, I don't have an account with them (nor with Line)

[Fex Bluse]

Shameful such Farangs don't seem to understand that they would NEVER be helped the same way. 

 

Endlessly gullible marks