[Cheonji Daily =Reporter kang soo-kyoung] In spite of a forest fire that ravaged an area covering 1757 hectares in the east-coast region of Gangwon - six times the size of Yeouido - helping hands for victims by Koreans from around the country continued.
Meanwhile, Shincheonji volunteer group's (SVG) Sokcho branch lent victims a helping hand for 7 days continuously from the first day of the forest fire which attracted global public attention.
In response to a plea made by Sokcho city hall for aid for victims of the forest fire, SVG’s Sokcho branch immediately summoned all its members and provided immediate on-site support.
In response to a report that Youngrang elementary school - the first shelter provided for forest fire victims - was no longer safe owing to the spread of the fire, SVG arrived on-scene and helped safely relocate victims out of the danger zone to Nohakdong Student Gymnasium - the second shelter designated by Sokcho city hall - with the aid of two vans. The group calmed victims' concerns and comforted them.
Moreover, they also willingly and whole-heartedly donated and delivered material aid including food and other necessary supplies with members of Sokcho New Community Women's Association. SVG members shared in victims' pain and sorrow by manually delivering stored relief goods transported from around the country by heavy-duty trucks, and handing them out with sweat running down their faces.
A representative of Shincheonji volunteer group's Sokcho branch said that they will continue to cooperate with Sokcho Volunteer Center, saying, “We are fully prepared to go anywhere where we can provide helping hands to victims who have lost their lives all of a sudden because of this forest fire.”
