I couldn’t even go on an autum picnic once because of an exam. I can feel a cold wind in the moring and night even though it’s autumn. Now I can feel winter coming to our campus on my skin. I heard our Kookmin people deliver briquettes to neighbors to have a warm winter so I went to meet them.
Let’s meet warm hearted Kookmin people as hot as a briquette. A
black group was coming to Jeongneung-dong in Seongbuk-gu at 10 a.m on the 26th of October, 2012. This event which delivers briquttes was planned to give a total of 4200 briquttes to low income families around the area of Jeongneung-dong through applying on campus to do volunteer work.
From early in the morning, the group divided up and got aprons and arm warmers and then did streching exercises to get ready.

These groups usually see others delivering briquettes, but this was the first time they delivered themselves.
According to a secret of delivering briquettes, if the way is short, they deliver briquettes by groups and move quickly. If it is a long distance, they split up and deliver them individually. I was surprised by the fact that although a briquette looks light, it is actually 3~4kg.
Considering delivering an even number due to easier counting, I think 2 briquettes are suitable to carry at one time. I heard that delivering briquettes takes a strong will because after a few minutes there are no parts of the body from the wrist to the waist that does not hurt. Though it is cold they sweat. I could see they did their best doing this. There was some break time to melt our freezing hands and eat hot fish cakes and boxed lunches. The taste was the best.
Seniors who received briquettes were appreciative and impressed by the Kookmin people. A person from a church said, I felt happy to see that young people were doing volunteer work. He hopes they felt as happy as he did.

Sul Lee, major in New Materials Engineering – Even though I was surprised about the weight of a briquette, it was interesting. In my case, I don’t have many chances left because I am a third year student, but for freshmen I would like to recommend participating in the event for 4 years.  

Tae Kyung Lee, major in Architecture - I visited a town where people still use briquettes for the first time. I feel very happy about this volunteer job and seeing towns people who showed us appreciation. Though this opportunity, I become brave and want to do more various volunteer jobs.

Jae Sang Park, major in Education - At first, I just followed my friend’s recommendation, but now I think coming here is a good thing. The event happens on weekdays so many of my friends can’t join us. However, the school gives us an excuse for being absent so the next time I hope I will be here with more friends. The event which began last year is very hard to do because of the cold weather, but this time the conditions were better so we could do it nicely with perfect conditions. At first, we couldn’t even image that we would deliver about 4000 briquettes, but because many people joined us to do it together we finished earlier. A person in charge of this event from the supporting student team said: “I really appreciate so many students participating and expect more to participate next year.” 

‘Don’t kick a briquette mindlessly; have you ever become warm person to anyone even once?’ This is a line from a poem of Do Hyan An, who is a famous poet. I hope you have the chance to give attention and love for neighbors though this volunteer work like this poem, which makes us self-reflect and promise to have warm hearts. We can’t be afraid about the cold winter if we prepare a warm heart through sharing with neighbors.