What is the connection between the Hong An Association and the Kontum Missionary and Friendship?
The Hong An Association is a branch of the Kontum Association (Kontum Missionary and Friendship – KMF), so they share the same President, Msgr. Joseph Hoang Minh Thang and the same Executive Board members. The KMF is recognized as a non-profit organization in the United States. The Federal Tax ID is 42-1757220.
- If I want to help and support the poor by making regular donations to the Hong An Association, what is the most convenient way to send this donation?
If you want to make a one-time contribution, you can send a check or money order to:
HOI TU THIEN HONG AN
P.O. Box 310935
Houston, TX 77231
And please make payment to the Order of: “Hoi Tu Thien Hong An”
Or DONATE ONLINE
If you choose to make monthly contributions, you can choose from these two ways:
- Via PayPal: From our website, (www. htthongan.com) with a credit card. The website will prompt instructions and the system will automatically withdraw the amount you specify on the same day, each month.
- Via mail: You can inform the Hong An Association and we will mail pre-paid postage and addressed envelopes (about 10 at a time) for your convenience.
- In which areas of Vietnam do the poor receive help from the Hong An Association?
The Sisters of 14 different Congregations serve the poor mostly in the Central Region and the North Region. Each Congregation serves in a different area and participates in a wide range of duties so that the Association can reach out to the poor people; especially the lonely elderly people, the sick, the lepers, the mentally ill, and the disabled in those specific areas. In addition, every three to six months, the Sisters travel to remote areas to offer any help possible. These isolated areas are usually ethnic minority villages.
At this time, due to a limited budget, the Hong An Association can only support the Sisters with these existing programs: The Hong An Rice Program and the Emergency Help Program.
- Are the contributions transferred to Vietnam through the Vietnamese government?
Absolutely not! The contributions are distributed according to need and sent directly to the Sisters in the Congregations without any third-party involvement. The Hong An Association has never encountered any difficulty with transferring the contributions to Vietnam. Contributions are sent every quarter (January, April, July, and October).
- Do poor people receiving help have to be Catholic?
No. The Hong An Association and the Sisters willingly help simply the “poor in poverty, unable to work.” Help for the poor is not based on religion or ethnicity.
- It is my understanding from Hong An Association that a bag of rice for one person per month is $5 (USD). If I want to help one person, should I send $5 (USD) monthly?
Yes, that is correct. You can help one poor person for only $5 a month! If you want to avoid postage fees ($0.50) every month, you may want to consider sending payments for three months, six months, or one year at a time.