During the four years at college, I paid my tuition by student loan and relied on scholarship, financial aid to live on, like many other rural kids. Nonetheless, inadequacy of property didn’t disable me to become a Free Lunch volunteer. Free Lunch Foundation is four years old and I have passed through FLFC Jiangxia for two years.

Up till now, according to the latest data, twenty-eight schools in Jiangxi offer free lunch with the help of FLFC. Coincidently, the first benefited school (September, 2011) and the last one (April 7, 2015), Changlun Primary School are both located in Xiushui County. I believe this moment reminds FLFC Jiangxi volunteers of abundant experiences about Free Lunch.

October 29,2013 Shencun Primary School at Cihua Town, Yuanzhou District, Yichun City, Jiangxi Province held free lunch commencement ceremony

【Deep touch Free Lunch school teachers gave me】

From my assisting principal to submit application forms to beginning free lunch, summer faded and fall came. Principal Zhangbo managed to complete Free Lunch application at the busy end of the semester; contact with him is redolent of my own primary teachers. Young teachers guarded mountains and children until hoary hair grew and youth went away stealthily. The deep movement that these youthful teachers gave me, I think, is my original motivation to be a FLFC school volunteer.

When new term began, principal Zhangbo relocated and Tan Chigen teacher supplanted him. Tan carried on Free Lunch program and worked with us to purchase kitchenware and to resolve the problem of electricity supply. The most touching part was that he and other teachers learned to use Weibo: it was Free Lunch that forced them to accept burgeoning network. I still remember teachers’ initial awkwardness and their apologizing to me like a kid for occasional mistakes.  I finally realized that sincerity and kindness are what drove my primary teachers to stay in mountain areas.

@Weibo of Shenchun Primary School in Cihua, Yichun City, Jiangxi Province publicizes lunch expenses

What I could do for FLFC was actually minute; I visited schools and filled out forms, checked application materials and supervised schools’ every-day expenditure. Any college student is competent to do the job. However, a lot of my schoolmates deemed that public welfare was equal to donating money to the needy. My actions changed some people’s perception: FLFC as a public welfare project was a charity and it also helped participants grow. I adamantly believe, public welfare means everybody wins.

Dialog between Bao Honggui, a volunteer from Family of Hope Volunteer Association in Yichun City and a visiting volunteer

【Strength that Free Lunch gave me】

At Shencun Primary School’s free lunch commencement ceremony, I first met Bao Honggui, a volunteer from Family of Hope Volunteer Association in Yichun City. He introduced various schools to FLFC Jiangxi and transported goods for many schools. Once he discovered institutions fit for Free Lunch project, he conveyed to us volunteers; he was like a bridge between FLFC and schools in need of help. I saw nobility in him. Bao makes a living by selling musical instruments; he is upright, refined and has numerous friends.

Back to then I was troubled by feelings of inferiority caused by poverty but he let me know self-esteem could be built by moral quality. If it was not for Free Lunch, I wouldn’t have met so many interesting people.

We are all ordinary volunteers at Free Lunch but in reality, they are extraordinary in different walks of life. The power of role models, affected me deeply at that period of time. I myself gained a lot of benefit from Free Lunch.

【Free Lunch, what else can I do?】

December 22, 2013, Shencun Primary School, ‘Return Primary School to Make a Wish’

When you were kid, have you ever dreamed to have a Maliang’s magic pen, anything you draw would come true? When you were little, have you ever wished to own any beloved treasure? I have. So prior to the 2013 Christmas, I connected Blue Sky Environment Conservation Club in Jiangxi Normal University, Weibo Association of Jiangxi Normal University and Yoga Tree Public Welfare Center in Nanchang City in order to plan an activity called ‘Return Primary School to Make a Wish’.

As a FLFC volunteer, I told teachers in Shencun Primary school to encourage children to draw their Christmas wishes and send me photos of their pictures. The two clubs of Jiangxi Normal University then presented student’s Christmas wishes online and offline so that kind people was able to fulfill them. Benevolent people could pick pictures of children’s wishes, register and send gifts to main sponsors or primary school’s principal, who would deliver gifts to kids.

During the two days, 54 pictures of wishes were taken by philanthropic people, most of whom were students of Jiangxi Normal University, professors, visiting scholars and nearby school students.

@Zhou Yunnan, who is in charge of Yoga Tree Public Welfare Center in Nanchang City found presents for children 

I solicited Zhengrong Benevolent Foundation to sponsor promotion and asked Yoga Tree Public Welfare Center to bring presents to school.

A pupil of Shencun Primary School received a postcard of Jiangxi Normal University’s landscape from a college student 

At the back of the postcard, it says that “It’s the library of Jiangxi Normal University. I will wait you at the university. Come on! A good child works hard. ”

 A representative volunteer of Blue Sky Environment Conservation Club in Jiangxi Normal University found the kid whose wish she realized

Liu Xiaoran from Blue Sky Environment Conservation Club sent presents with us. She had deep feelings and appreciated my holding the activity. I replied I was grateful that children gave us this chance. I wondered what conversation she had with kids and she told me this story.

One little boy wished for a rice-cooker so Liu asked him why he painted it. The boy answered shyly, his grandma wanted a rice-cooker. She then questioned the boy ’What’s your own Christmas wish?’ But the 8-year-old boy said ‘My grandma’s wish is my wish. She prepares meals day and night. It’s very tiring. What I want is not important.’

I saw envy in his eyes as well when he looked at other kids. While I admired his sense of responsibility, I recalled my own experience. Poverty is not intimidating; our efforts can overcome it.

A teacher from Jiangxi Normal University selected a gift for a child

Ms. Cong Yanhua, my college professor and her daughter chose this garment together. The owner of the coat is the daughter of a teacher in Shencun Primary School. Therefore, kindness was passed from university to grade school, from a professor to a primary teacher, from a daughter to another daughter. I was moved by this magical relay of love.

And I was touched by kids at Free Lunch schools.

I once owned a threadbare doll

And I knitted several dresses that didn’t fit

I hugged and told her don’t be afraid

When lightning-bolt flashed and thunderstorm stroke

Someone wanted to exchange her with a new one

I said no

Because I never make clothes for the new doll

I don’t love her

【Bless our Free Lunch】

Attended Free Lunch commencement ceremony with FLFC volunteer Li Yuanyuan

Visited Shanbei Primary School with FLFC Jiangxi superintendant Wu Yongjun

Every volunteer has dissimilar emotions for Free Lunch; my love for Free Lunch was because of the activity of ‘Return Primary School to Make a Wish’. It’s the first and only time I united five organizations across provinces to accomplish an activity. Thank FLFC Jiangxi for supporting my idea. I still remember FLFC Jiangxi superintendant Wu Yongjun nodded and approved my creative plan. Although I was not wealthy at college, I discovered my ability to help and love and motivate people around me to do benevolent things.

      At present, I’m already working and lack time to read every piece of Weibo of Free Lunch schools or every decision of FLFC Jiangxi. I even haven’t contacted my volunteer mates for a long while. But I always care about Free Lunch and will continue to pay attention.

In the two years I volunteered for FLFC Jiangxi, what I did was merely trifling. I want to thank kids in the mountain areas who reminded of my background and FLFC team which helped me grow. Bless our dear Free Lunch. Happy 4-year-old birthday!