"Public welfare canteen" provides free lunch to elderly citizens with difficulty in moving.[Photo by Xu Junzuan]

Near lunch time on October 13, over 80 old men were sitting at an old grain house located in Weizi Community of Sanxiang Town and getting ready to enjoy the “free meal”. Hundreds of ready-meals were packed outside, waiting for delivery to the elderly who have difficulty in moving by volunteers.

Being informed of that there are lonely, empty-nested or poor elderly men in rural area of the town, three Sanxiang elites Zheng Guiyao, Zhang Guangde and Lian Weiqi established a ‘public welfare canteen’ this April. The program is gaining support from increasing number of volunteers and merchants.

The “public welfare canteen” not only delivers free meals to the elderly in need every day, but also provides dine-in service at the grain house. Volunteers also chat with the old men and enjoyed performances with them.

According to Zheng Guiyao, about 100 old people dine at “public welfare canteen” at noon every day. Another 120 ready-meals will be delivered to the elderly who have difficulty in moving in 6 villages including Qiaotou, Wushi and Weizi.

The “public welfare canteen” also brings along participation and mutual assistance from residents and merchants. In the past six months, more than 80 volunteers have provided 5,007 hours of voluntary service.