On April 23, the Taizhou Fraternity Association in Zhejiang went out to visit eight special families in Jiaojiang District as part of their community service event.
According to Jiaojiang Christ Church in Taizhou, President Ms. Yang Lanjiao, Vice President Ms. Kong Aiqing, and 18 other volunteers teamed up to visit households and assess their needs. During their visit to Granny Lin's home, where she lives alone, they helped wash and dry her musty bedding and reorganize her belongings. When they were at Grandpa Zhang's place, who is bedridden, they trimmed his nails and shared some springtime health tips. The volunteers also assisted Xiao Chen, who has an intellectual disability, in organizing her personal items and used toys to help with communication.
Wherever they went, the volunteers were dedicated to helping families by cleaning up. "Our main rule is not to be afraid of getting dirty or tired," Vice President Ms. Kong explained as she assisted a farmer in cleaning his pigpens.
During a visit to the home of an 80-year-old woman who lives alone, the volunteer counselor learned that she has been on her own all year because her son works away from home. Wanting to help the elderly lady express her emotions in a more relaxed way, the counselor said, "Granny, the roses you planted are blooming so beautifully, just like your incredible life." Touched by the sentiment, the woman shared cherished photos with tears in her eyes and reminisced about stories from her youth.
At the event, Director Ms. Chen Chunhua, who had recently been discharged from the hospital and was still recovering, made it a point to help out with the volunteers by moving garbage and cleaning. "Experiencing illness firsthand has deepened my understanding of the challenges faced by those in need," she remarked.
The Taizhou Fraternity Association has announced the implementation of a new "one-on-one" tracking system, in which they will conduct monthly follow-ups with each household. Vice President Ms. Kong stressed that the association's goal is not only to address immediate challenges but also to empower marginalized communities to regain their confidence and feel supported by society.
- Translated by Joyce Leung
