Volunteer taxi drivers in Baotou reported by central media

Members of Baotou Leifeng Motorcade accept an interview. [Photo/WeChat account of Baotou Daily]

On the evening of Feb 1, CCTV's Focus Report (焦点访谈) – a famous in-depth news report program launched in 1994 – reported on how Baotou Leifeng Motorcade has helped society and people at the grassroots level.

The motorcade was China's first volunteer service taxi team and is named after Lei Feng, a Party member who died in the line of duty in 1962, at the age of 22, and helped many people throughout his life. 

"Focus Report broadcast the story of our motorcade. I'm touched. We will strive to better serve the people in the future," said Wei Qiyi, member of the general Party branch of the motorcade.

The motorcade was founded in July 2007. At that time, a dozen enthusiastic taxi drivers gathered in hopes of improving the service image of the taxi industry by providing volunteer services to the public. In April of the next year, its Party branch was set up.

The number of team members has now increased from a little over 60 to more than 300.

Taxi drivers, also members of the motorcade, pose for a group photo while voluntarily planting trees. [Photo/WeChat account of Baotou Daily]

According to statistics, since its establishment, the motorcade has helped find missing elderly and children more than 350 times, voluntarily planted more than 2,000 trees, denoted over 350,000 yuan ($51,893) to orphans, leukemia patients, and Wenchuan and Yushu earthquake-stricken areas, and helped find and return over 245,000 yuan in lost cash and over 2,000 mobile phones to passengers.

Students are picked up for free by the motorcade during the high school entrance examination and given fruit to cheer them up. [Photo/WeChat account of Baotou Daily]