XI'AN, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- After delivering 130 lunch boxes to frontline anti-epidemic workers, Xu Kai, fully dressed in a hazmat suit, headed for his next destination without wasting a second.
The photographer, 29, opened a communal kitchen near a cancer hospital in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, last year to serve patients and their families.
The kitchen, a godsend for those who are cash strapped, provides free cooking utensils and seasonings "so that every penny can be saved to extend the life of the patients."
Xu explained that the use of the stove costs just one yuan (about 16 U.S. cents) each time. "I hope that the familiar taste of home can give the patients some extra strength in fighting against the disease."
The kitchen temporarily closed in the early stage of the latest COVID-19 resurgence that hit Xi'an in December last year. The megacity, with its tally of confirmed cases over the past month exceeding 1,800 as of Wednesday midnight, has imposed closed-off management in all communities to contain the spread of the virus.
As epidemic control measures upgrade, Xu decided to reopen his kitchen to help people in need. "We mainly offer free meals to frontline medics, cancer patients and stranded students who came here for the postgraduate entrance exam," he said.
So far, more than 10,000 meals have been delivered since operations resumed on Dec. 27, averaging over 1,000 meals a day. The number of volunteers at the kitchen has also risen to over 30 from just five thanks to overwhelming support from nearby residents.
On New Year's Day, Xu and volunteers specially prepared dumplings, a traditional Chinese food consumed during festivals, to infuse staffers engaged in the anti-epidemic work with a joyous and festive spirit.
Xu did a simple calculation beforehand and estimated that roughly 3,000 yuan would be spent every day to run the kitchen, but the actual figure almost doubled to 5,000 yuan.
"It's a lot of pressure, but many generous people and entrepreneurs have constantly sent vegetables and other daily necessities to assist us," Xu said, pointing to a pile of packaged rice and vegetables provided by a Taiwan compatriot. Enditem
