Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch? At No. 97 Xin'an Street in Chancheng District, Foshan, the Aizhu Canteen proves otherwise. Since it began operating in 2022, the canteen has delivered 55,000 free hot meals over the past three years. Though transformed from a dilapidated old house and covering just 60 square meters, the canteen has become a caring haven for seniors living nearby.

Zou Jingxi, vice president of the Foshan Aizhu Association and initiator of the Aizhu Canteen project, said that Xin'an Street, located in the old urban area, is home to a large number of elderly residents who are advanced in age, live alone, or have no family support. Difficulties in grocery shopping and cooking, as well as the loneliness of eating alone, have become common problems. The public-welfare canteen was launched in response to these needs.

According to information provided, in the early days of operation, the canteen served only around a dozen to just over 20 meals per day and often struggled to cover its daily expenses. Today, as its reputation has grown and goodwill has continued to flow in, the canteen now serves around 80 meals a day on a regular basis. Wu Min'er, an operator of the project, said the canteen has received strong support from caring individuals. Some make anonymous donations via WeChat without seeking anything in return; some deliver rice, cooking oil and vegetables by electric scooter and then leave without a word; others volunteer their time to help with washing and preparing ingredients, meal distribution and cleaning, sharing the workload and spreading warmth through their actions.

In addition, the canteen has also become a warm community hub, offering sanitation workers, couriers, food delivery riders and other people in need a place to rest, as well as access drinking water, emergency medicines and leisure reading, extending its care to more groups who need support.

佛山爱助食堂，三年为老人送出5.5万份免费热食

谁说“天下没有免费午餐”？在佛山禅城新安街97号的“爱助食堂”就有。爱助食堂于2022年开始运营，至今的3年时光里已送出5.5万份免费热餐。这间由破旧老宅改造而成的食堂虽然只有60平方米，却是周边长者的爱心港湾。

佛山市爱助会副会长、爱助食堂项目发起人邹景禧表示，位于老城区的新安街，高龄、独居、孤寡老人较为集中，“买菜做饭不便、独自用餐冷清”成为普遍问题。为解决这些问题，爱助食堂应运而生。

据介绍，爱助食堂运营初期，日均供餐量十几二十余份，还时常因日常开销陷入困境。如今，随着口碑逐渐传开、爱心不断汇聚，食堂日均供餐量稳定在80份左右。爱助食堂项目运营者伍敏儿表示，食堂得到很多爱心人士的助力。有人通过微信匿名捐款，不求回报；有人骑电动车送来米油蔬菜，放下便悄然离去；有人主动上门帮忙，分担洗菜切配、派饭打扫的繁杂工作，用行动传递温情。

此外，爱助食堂还成为一间暖心驿站，为环卫工人、快递小哥、外卖骑手等有需要的人群提供休息歇脚、饮用水补给、应急药品、休闲阅读等服务，让暖意覆盖更多需要帮助的人。

文、图丨记者 李婷婷
翻译丨曾敏
审校丨林佳岱