A Christian volunteer service center in Xiamen joined in the pandemic prevention work in the form of "Time Bank", as many places in Fujian Province suffered a second wave of coronavirus since September 12.
During the outbreak, Xiamen Ren’ai Love Service Center in Fujian carried out many public welfare ministries, such as assisting the work of pandemic prevention and control, community residents' psychological counseling, and elderly care.
"Time Bank" is a public welfare charity project, which was launched by the center in 2021. Referring to the bank savings card model, volunteers "deposit" the time they spend participating in public welfare services into their time bank account, from which they can withdraw "service time" for themselves or their immediate family members in need or difficulties. They can exchange the time for home services, elderly care supplies, discounts for staying in elderly care institutions, and other equivalent services.
Recently, "Time Bank" project volunteers helped to monitor body temperature and check health codes in their respective communities.
In addition to this, they also established an online platform "spiritual station" in a WeChat group, to help community residents clarify rumors, relieve anxiety, and supply what they needed.
As home visits for the elderly were suspended due to COVID-19, volunteers chatted with them on the phone, to hear their voices and relieve their frustration. And some shared pandemic prevention knowledge and news via a WeChat video call.
At the same time, volunteers would immediately report back to the center if they knew their difficulties during the call. They helped to purchase daily necessities for the aged living alone or materials for elderly care organizations and sent pandemic relief supplies to the front line.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
