On June 18, Dangjin Integrated Steelworks’ family volunteer group, Happy Prism, set out to do community work for local farmers.
This activity was arranged to help alleviate the shortage of workers for the harvest of agricultural products due to the aging of farmers in rural areas.
Around 70 volunteers from Happy Prism, made up of the families of Dangjin Steelworks employees, participated to help at three farms in Songak-eup, Dangjin-si.
With the recent drought causing low crop yields, the volunteers decided to focus on increasing the marketability of the harvested crops. They prepared in advance to use farm machinery for harvesting instead of digging directly with hoes. The group went to the farms, harvested the potatoes from the ground, and packaged them in boxes.
Dangjin Integrated Steelworks purchased all of the harvested potatoes from that day and delivered them to 45 welfare facilities including those for the elderly, children, and the disabled. The family volunteer group personally visited some of the facilities.
Furthermore, with the aim of revitalizing the production of local agriculture, some of those among the families who participated decided to purchase some of the potatoes and onions directly from the farms where they were harvested.
“We worked hard on this weekend morning, and felt rewarded to be able to work with potatoes that came directly from the soil,” said Lee Sung-Jee whose family participated in the activity. “It was a meaningful time in that it let me remind my children of the importance of agriculture and the precious value of food.”
Dangjin Integrated Steelworks’ family volunteer group resumed their activities following the lifting of social distancing regulations in May. They have already conducted their third activity this year, and plan to continue to offer a helping hand to those in need in Dangjin.
