Jiangqiao hotline proves a lifeline
Print Edition
Is that 5180? My door lock is broken, can you help me fix it?” A man surnamed Liu in Fengbang called the line in Jiangqiao Town for volunteers’ help. Hours later, a volunteer came to replace his lock. The phone number 5180, which sounds the same as “I want to help you” in Chinese, is for Jiangqiao residents who need help with various problems.
With the population increasing daily, the needs of Jiangqiao residents become more diversified, and existing services are insufficient.
“The development makes it a must for us to use all social resources to provide timely and convenient service for our residents,” an official of Jiangqiao said.
Jiangqiao set up 14 volunteer stations years ago, and at the beginning of the year set up the 24-hour hotline. The problems the volunteers encounter range from the mundane to the tragic.
During the summer, a resident surnamed Zhou called for help as his air conditioner had broken down. However, the tradesman in his community was not available while a volunteer who knows how to fix aircon was out of town.
The operator contacted another volunteer in a neighboring area and the aircon was fixed in less than an hour.
Some calls to the hotline can be heartbreaking.
In March, the hotline received a call from a boy surnamed Lu, saying his father had jumped to his death from his apartment building. Lu didn’t know what to do and his helplessness and hesitation was evident over the phone.
The hotline operator calmed him down while contacting the nearest volunteer station, and found psychological counseling volunteers to help him. Several parties offered assistance to the boy in his daily life and studies.
The majority of hotline users are elderly residents who need someone to buy food or medicine for them. Sometimes they just need a friend.
In April a woman surnamed Zhang in Yangliu Community called, saying she wanted to chat as she lived alone. The operator found that the problem was Zhang’s difficulty in walking, which made it hard to meet her neighbors.
Thus the operator contacted several volunteers, who helped clean her house, read newspapers and books to her, and provided health care services.
So far there are 10,000 registered volunteers in Jiangqiao ready to help.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
