Using Blogs to Promote Charity: Helping the Elderly Cut Their Nails
Many people are familiar with Xu Wei's song "Blue Lotus." A young woman from the provincial capital, Li Xianglian, has repeatedly used "Blue Lotus" as her online name. She says that "Blue Lotus" is very inspiring and represents a persistent pursuit of dreams. Her ability to continue caring for many elderly people who live alone for eight years is precisely because of her unwavering belief.
**Hand-Making Dumplings for the Elderly**
I met Li Xianglian at the founding conference of our newspaper’s “Xinan Volunteer Group” a few days ago. This simply dressed, cheerful young girl is not only one of our newspaper's volunteers but also serves as the moderator of the 99-degree community forum. In real life, she is also the logistics supervisor of a hotel.
Because of her busy schedule, Li Xianglian hasn't visited Grandma Wen for quite some time. On the 25th, she took time off to buy dumpling wrappers and meat filling from the market. She then personally made dumplings in the hotel cafeteria, preparing to deliver them to Grandma Wen the next day. On the afternoon of February 26, it was overcast and particularly cold in Hefei. Li Xianglian had taken leave and arrived at the Dianxiang Community carrying a large bag filled with fruit, dumplings, and cake. When Grandma Wen Xiuying saw her long-lost "good granddaughter," she was so moved that she almost shed tears. With an apologetic face, Li Xianglian said to the elder, "Grandma, I'm really sorry for not visiting you for such a long time!"
When she noticed that the elderly woman's nails were a bit long, Li Xianglian immediately took out the nail clippers and carefully trimmed them for her. Li Xianglian told reporters that she met this elderly woman during a volunteer activity. The grandmother usually stays home alone and feels very lonely. Therefore, whenever she has time, she comes to visit, chatting with the elderly woman.
**Determined to Help Others Since Childhood**
Li Xianglian is from Feidong and is 26 years old this year. Her parents and several brothers all work in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, leaving only her in Hefei, where she works while taking care of some elderly people living alone. Li Xianglian grew up in a poor family and dropped out of school midway due to financial difficulties. At that time, an unknown teacher continuously encouraged and helped her, treating her like his own daughter by giving her all the good items he had. This selfless love from the teacher deeply touched Li Xianglian. From then on, she resolved: once she started working, she would definitely help more people!
**Helping Over 20 Elders Consistently**
In 2002, Li Xianglian came to Hefei and worked in a restaurant. Starting from then, she began working while taking care of the elderly around her. Whenever she had free time, she went to their homes, helping them wash clothes, cook meals, clean the house, and chat to prevent loneliness.
When she learned that a group of disabled elders needed to go to the library every week and faced great difficulty going up and down slopes, she quickly contacted them and started picking them up and dropping them off at the library. Li Xianglian's sincerity and kindness deeply moved many empty-nest elders, and many elderly people wanted to adopt her as a goddaughter and invited her to live with them.
Li Xianglian mentioned that in these past years of volunteering, she has consistently served about twenty elders, some of whom have passed away. Whenever she sees the painful expressions of those who are lonely or suffering from illness, she feels very distressed. All she can do is provide them with as much care as possible.
**Being Suspected of Having Impure Motives**
However, doing good deeds isn't always easy. Li Xianglian told reporters that often, when she wants to help someone, others frequently suspect her motives. "I don't know her, so why is she helping me for no reason? Is she a scammer?" Whenever encountering such situations, Li Xianglian patiently explains to the elders or gathers their neighbors to collectively supervise and "authenticate" her. Every time she hears words of gratitude from the elders or sees a kind smile, it's like receiving a shot of adrenaline, encouraging her to keep going on the path of helping others.
**Five Spring Festivals Without Returning Home**
Nowadays, in many old neighborhoods in Hefei, Li Xianglian has gained many "new homes." Because she cannot let go of the concerns of these "family members," since 2007, she has not returned home to reunite with her relatives during every Spring Festival. "This year, I spent the holiday at Grandma Shi Pengying's house in Liyu Alley. She is 92 years old and lives alone in a small room of just over ten square meters, leading a very difficult life. Moreover, with age, her hearing has deteriorated significantly. I really couldn't bear letting her spend the New Year alone." Li Xianglian said that although she gives her love, what she gains in return is happiness.
Reported by Xiang Chunlei of our newspaper (Edited by SN005).