Volunteers reopen free canteen for seniors

A group of volunteers in Hukou county, Jiangxi province, have chipped in to reopen a village canteen to provide free meals for the local elderly residents.

Chenhetangwan village in the county once had a government-sponsored canteen, but the limited annual budget of 10,000 yuan ($1,400) made it unfeasible for it to provide free meals to the seniors and so it was forced to close.

The small village of only 400 residents has 60 residents over the age of 65, and the closure of the canteen meant that these people no longer had a cheap and convenient place to eat.

Local Chen Yingpeng saw this and decided to round up a group of volunteers and open a new canteen to feed the elderly.

The canteen, known as the Happiness Canteen, is located next to the village activity center and has the capacity to accommodate over 50 diners at a time.

"I grew up in this village, so I'm familiar with the needs of our senior residents," Chen said. "Many of them are living alone, often without spouses, which makes it difficult for them to cook for themselves at home. So I gathered a group of kindhearted villagers to raise funds and set up a free canteen."

The canteen receives its primary funding from subsidies provided by local governments and the fundraising endeavors of empathetic individuals.

To improve the management of the canteen, a five-person team was formed. The canteen's expenses are settled weekly to ensure transparency, with estimated annual costs exceeding 100,000 yuan.

The canteen provides free breakfast and lunch, attracting an increasing number of senior diners.

"Almost all the seniors in the village come here to eat. There are more than 50 people here every day," Chen said.

The canteen is closed on Sundays and holidays to allow families to spend time together.

With the exception of elderly individuals who have health issues, all residents age 65 and above take turns daily to assist with meal preparation and cleaning. The chefs and assistants are all local residents.

Assistant cook You Qingchun said, "We take turns to work to ensure everyone gets a hot meal."

Another duty roster member, Chen Hezhi, said: "The senior people gather here happily. If someone misses a meal, we immediately contact and confirm with their family."

Chen Zhizhong, a philanthropic individual actively engaged in fundraising for the canteen, said that its presence has created a sense of comfort for both the seniors who dine together and their children who work outside.

"Since the canteen opened, we are all very happy. Many of us from the same village often work away from home, which can be concerning as our parents remain in the village and are getting older," he said.

"We believe the canteen is incredibly meaningful, as it brings happiness, health and joy to the seniors in the village while allowing the younger generation working outside to focus on their jobs with peace of mind."

Elderly resident Chen Guixi and his wife are among the canteen's frequent customers.

"Since the canteen opened, we go there every day for our meals. There are a lot of options for food and the environment is clean and hygienic, making it a nice place to eat," Chen said.