Keeping people's benefit in mind

It is still early morning and only a few people are out having their daily stroll. In stark contrast, the office hall of the Yuanhui Community in Yanji, Jilin province, has been crowded since six o'clock.

The Party secretary, Lin Songshu, is explaining policy and addressing the residents' various concerns.

Lin Songshu is selected as a delegate to attend the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China this year. [Photo/Xinhua]

Lin has been working at this community for 17 years. Unlike other members of the administrative committee, she does not have an office desk as she always visits residents right in the community to help them with their problems.

She has not changed her telephone number for the past ten years so people can call her any time they are in trouble.

Everyone in the neighborhood knows her phone number, even the seniors and children. "Many empty-nest elderly really rely on me, so I need to make sure they can always find me," Lin said.

Lin has kept a "livelihood diary" since 2001. She uses it to record nearly all the problems and difficulties residents meet and writes down policies that benefit the community.

Lin's diary on May 25, 2014: "I visited Zhang Yujin today. Her husband passed away last year (2013) and she started to live alone then. We staff members of the administrative committee should care more about the empty-nest elderly like her." [Photo/Xinhua]

She pounced on the chance to be involved in the "Warm Houses" project which was sponsored by the Jilin government to make houses warmer through re-installing windows and adding heated boards.

To make sure every flat was well equipped Lin visited residents' flats over 10,000 times, checking the efficiency of the windows and heating equipment.

She also adopted six children in the past ten years, two of whom have entered college.

"We have close relations and they all call me 'mom'," Lin added.

Zhang and her colleagues always organize interesting activities for the lonely elderly in the neighborhood to enrich their lives. [Photo/Xinhua]

She also initiated an association in the community to protect children in need.

The association offers tutorial courses, sports training and interest-oriented courses to leftover children.

She does not remember how many problems she has solved for people but what she's done will never be forgotten by any of the residents.

In speaking about being a delegate to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, she stressed "I could never have become a delegate without people's support, so I'm proud of them."