The self-catering rice machine is in operation from 8 AM to 5 PM every day at the Cultural and Sports Centre of Nghia Tan Ward in Cau Giay District.
The installation of the machine in Hanoi was sponsored by Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Director of Thai Ha Books Company. Hung said that soon after he shared his idea on the social media, he has received a lot of support from benefactors and volunteers.
The ATM was designed by Doan Thanh Tung.
It took the project’s team two days, from April 8 to 10, to complete the installation of the rice dispenser.
Each individual can claim 3kg of rice per day by pressing on a foot pedal, which is connected directly to the machine.
The recipients are asked to register their names and information before receiving rice.
They are also requested to wash their hands before making a ‘withdrawal’ from the 'rice ATM'.
Wearing face masks, people wait in line at a distance of two metres from each other to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
A large number of disadvantaged people came for the free rice on the morning of April 11.
The machine doles out between 2.7kg to 3.2 kg each turn.
Tran Thi Lanh had left her hometown in Nam Dinh Province to collect street garbage in Hanoi. She had undergone eight-month cancer treatment, and her income has been badly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
“I want to thank the rice provider for helping us in such a difficult situation,” she said.
Many benefactors have donated rice for the operation of the rice ATM with the hope to offer a helping hand to underprivileged people.
The machine will be operational until April 30 or until it runs out of the 10 tonnes of rice.
