'Attendant' pours her heart into community

Lin Dan helps a mother feed her child during a gathering in the Junmen community in Fuzhou, Fujian province, on March 10. [Photo for  China Daily]

From visiting seniors to setting up elder care center, Lin Dan has spent 50 years striving to make her neighbors' lives better

Each day at 6 am, Lin Dan prepares breakfast, lunch and dinner for her husband. She does so to make up for her lack of time with him.

Now Party chief of the Junmen community in Fuzhou, Fujian province, the 72-year-old started working there as a staff member when she was 22.

"Working in a residential community is not something very big, but every aspect of my job matters to people's well-being," Lin said. "The community work generally focuses on the elderly and young, and it's something that we should do with all our heart."

A senior widow surnamed Wu had been living alone for years. Lin took care of her daily needs from 1994 until Wu died in 2003. Lin managed her funeral.

In 1991, a resident surnamed Wang was imprisoned for eight years for theft. His mother died during that time, and their rented house was taken back by the landlord. Lin took Wang in after he was released, and he lived with her for half a year.

Xie Rong, deputy Party chief of the community, said Lin often says that community workers are the daughters and sons of all the senior residents.

"She treats them as family members," Xie said.

Li Xing, a resident, said Lin has visited his home several times. "She is not doing it just for show. She treats everyone genuinely," he said.

Lin said she is motivated by her ambitions.