'Hongqi' happy canteen warms stomachs and hearts

Canteen staff dish out food. [Photo by Liu Lei for chinadaily.com.cn]

"The elderly and the young" is currently the most practical and urgent livelihood issue. This year, Qihe county in Shandong province has continuously deepened reforms and innovations, launching the construction of "Hongqi" Happy Canteens throughout the county.

Through market-oriented operation, it has explored a sustainable operational model to provide convenient and diverse meal services for the elderly.

Elderly people enjoy their meals. [Photo by Liu Lei for chinadaily.com.cn]

Qihe has fully leveraged the political and organizational functions of grassroots Party organizations, utilized village-level activity venues and function rooms at service centers, and revitalized and transformed idle spaces to build the canteens.

Qihe has tailored dining subsidy based on the ages of elderly individuals and has relied on the strength of nursing homes, social organizations, caring enterprises, and more provide meal delivery services to elderly individuals in need, ensuring that they can eat comfortably. The county has so far established 93 Hongqi Happy Canteens, benefiting more than 3,200 people. (Edited by Gong Jun)