Jiaozuo native serves free breakfast to people in need

A group of volunteers have provided free breakfast to vagrants, people with disabilities, residents living in poverty and sanitation workers for five years in Jiaozuo, Henan province, Henan Daily reported on Tuesday.

Jin Baoyan, 37, a native of Jiaozuo, is the sponsor of the charitable group, which provides free porridge at the intersection between Shucai alley and Chaoyang South Road daily. So far, they have provided 170,000 bowls.

Jin and the volunteers usually arrive at 4 am for preparation. When the service is over, all of them go back to their regular jobs and begin a day of work.

The seed of charity was sowed early in Jin's heart. His mother died when he was only 13 years old and the whole family lived in poverty. Thanks to help given by warm-hearted neighbors and villagers, he and his younger sister were able to grow up healthy.

"It was a dozen fellow villagers who built a new brick house for us and they did not charge me at all. Many did not even drink my water," Jin recalled.

Impressed by the kindness of the villagers, Jin promised himself that he would try his best to help others and be a good man.

He has kept his word. When he studied in high school and college, Jin was a member of the school's volunteer association and took part in activities regularly.

In 2008, Jin founded the charitable organization Wanzhouyuan Rescue Charity Center with an aim to help poor students, elders, sick people and people with disabilities.

At the beginning, he and the volunteers took time to search for people in need in villages and sent relief goods such as rice, flour, edible oil and cotton quilts.

In 2013, he initiated the free breakfast activity to help more people, and more volunteers and donors have been involved since then.

Jin is keeping his promise, doing his part to help people and give back to society.