In one community in Shanxi, a voluntary service team started last October nicknamed "Shared Children", which works hard to support elderly empty nesters（空巢老人）, is getting popular.
The 108 volunteers have already made a big difference within the Chaoyang community. They have paired off with 71 elderly people to learn about their daily needs and offer a helping hand.
In recent years, the community has come up with many ideas. At first, they started a project called "Knocking on the Door", hoping that the elderly would connect the leaders often. However, the community did not have enough staff to support so many elderly people. So, the idea of "shared children" came out.
"The Shared Children voluntary service allows kind people to join in public activities for the elderly people in their spare time," says Guo, adding that not only did the local people join in with great love, but many staff members from supermarkets, banks and other working units also joined in.
By March, the number of the volunteers in the team had reached 108. Their work has also included buying things, providing spiritual comfort, helping dealing with health problems and other duties.
The volunteers are not all youngsters. Fan Fawen, a retired train driver, joined to support the volunteer team last year. He often helps to repair something in elderly people's homes and buys them fruit and vegetables, as well as carrying heavy stuff, like rice bags, upstairs.
Liu Chunyan, 41, is also among the volunteers. "Many elderly people now live alone and feel lonely, so we should be there and chat with them more often." Liu says.
"More people are now starting to learn about the team. We believe that more people will join us in the future," says Hao Guoying, secretary of the community's Party branch.
