On September 26, 2025, a photo widely shared across social media caught the attention of the entire National Dong Hwa University（NDHU）community. In the picture, a foreign man wearing a wrist brace on his left hand, holding a shovel in one hand and a bag of relief supplies in the other, was walking intently into the flood-damaged areas in Guangfu, Hualien. Through reposts on Instagram and Threads, students at NDHU were surprised to recognize that the man in the photo was none other than Mr. Jason Grenier, a long-serving Canadian instructor at the university's Language Center.

To honor his selfless act of kindness, the Secretariat at NDHU conducted a special interview with Mr. Grenier, whose volunteer efforts had made local news. "Some friends messaged me that day to tell me I was in the news," he said with a smile, "but I was too busy helping in Guangfu to check my phone. I only found out later when my wife told me."

Regarding his injured wrist shown in the photo, Mr. Grenier explained that he had fractured it in a bicycle accident in late August. On September 12, he underwent surgery at Mennonite Christian Hospital in Hualien, where the doctor inserted a titanium plate and screws to stabilize the bone. "My hand is gradually regaining strength and function," he said.

When asked what motivated him to join the relief effort, Mr. Grenier recalled, "After I saw the news about the overflow of the landslide lake in Guangfu, I immediately wanted to help-just like many others. I often ride my bicycle through Guangfu, and I see the residents there as my neighbors." His wife fully supported his decision to go, and despite his injury, he believed he could still contribute: "Even with only one good hand, I knew I could help."

He continued with a laugh, "Because of my wrist injury, I asked my wife to buy me the lightest shovel she could find. The bag in the photo contained energy drinks, several Snickers bars, and a long industrial extension cord to donate to the rescue team. It was a bit heavy for my injured hand, so I looked rather serious in the photo."

On the second day of his volunteer work, Mr. Grenier accidentally cut his hand on a sharp piece of metal. "It looked worse than it really was because of the bleeding," he recalled. "Fortunately, the on-site Tzu Chi medical team quickly disinfected and bandaged the wound and gave me a tetanus shot." Despite having both hands injured, he rested for just one day before returning to Guangfu to continue helping. "There was still so much work to do," he said. "I just wanted to get back and contribute again."

Reflecting on the experience, Mr. Grenier shared his deep gratitude: "So many people were doing their best to help-it was truly moving. I met volunteers from all over Taiwan, and many NDHU's faculty and students also came to support the effort. It reminded me of the power of community spirit. I'm just one of many people doing their part. Thanks to everyone's selfless teamwork, the residents of Guangfu and Fenglin are gradually rebuilding their lives and standing strong again."

News report about Jason Grenier on His Relief Work in Guangfu