▲ 36 million won was provided for the restoration of a home and emergency living expenses for a basic livelihood security recipient in Ganghwa-do, Incheon, whose house was completely destroyed by a fire in April last year.
The Miracle of 119 Won campaign, in which firefighters from the Incheon Fire Department donate 119 won per day to support accident victims, has surpassed 1.6 billion won in total donations.
According to the Incheon Fire Department on Thursday (July 9), the total amount raised over the seven years from the start of the campaign in August 2019 to the end of June this year is 1.6047 billion won.
Among the approximately 4,500 participants in the fundraising campaign, about 2,300 are firefighters, while the rest are members of the general public.
This campaign was initiated by firefighters who respond to various accident scenes.
While each participant donates 119 won a day, amounting to only about 3,570 won a month—roughly the price of a cup of coffee—it has grown into a significant sum after seven years.
To date, 664.13 million won of the funds raised has been used to support 141 households affected by various accidents.
The fire department recently provided 5 million won to a single-parent family to help purchase household goods after they suffered significant damage in a villa fire in Bupyeong-gu last April.
The woman in her 40s, who is raising three minor children, was struggling to make ends meet after the interior of her villa and all her household goods were destroyed in the fire, which was caused by electrical factors.
A family affected by an apartment fire in Gyeyang-gu last March also received 10 million won for relocation and living expenses.
The fire victim, a woman in her 50s, suffers from chronic renal failure, and her son in his 30s has a disability, making it difficult for them to recover from the damage on their own.
A father in his 60s and his son in his 30s, who suffered burns and lost their home and belongings in a fire at a villa in Seo-gu (currently Seohae-gu) last February, were able to find a foothold for recovery through financial support of 50 million won.
In addition, nine households in Michuhol-gu that were affected by a gas explosion accident last June each received 1.5 million won in recovery assistance.
The fire department selects recipients based on recommendations from firefighters and related agency staff, followed by a review by external committee members, and provides support through the Community Chest of Korea in Incheon.
An official from the Incheon Fire Department said, "We will continue to lend a helping hand so that victims suffering from unexpected accidents can quickly find stability in their lives."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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