4 . At 3:00 a. m., most people are still sleeping. But volunteers at some porridge restaurants in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, are busy making free breakfast for sanitation workers(环卫工人), the old, and other people in need. There are more than 20 such porridge restaurants in Zhengzhou.

All this happens thanks to Jiang Airong. She opened the first free porridge restaurant in Zhengzhou in 2013. After seeing the sanitation workers working hard on cold mornings but only having very simple breakfasts, Jiang wanted to help them. She heard that in some places there were free porridge restaurants for people in need. She thought it was a good way to help and then started one in Zhengzhou with some volunteers.

At first, people were doubtful about the restaurant, but Jiang and the volunteers still worked hard to help. As time goes on, more and more people know about the free porridge restaurant and come here every morning.

After starting the free porridge restaurant, Jiang gets up at around 2:40 a. m. every day. Then she starts making breakfast with the volunteers. At 5:50 a. m., they start to give out free breakfast to people. Although it’s hard work, they feel happy. Starting from Jiang’s restaurant, more and more free porridge restaurants are appearing in Zhengzhou and other cities of Henan for people in need.

5 . Yuan Hui made a decision ten years ago to become a volunteer teacher in the poor areas of Hubei Province. During the past ten years, the 34-year-old man has taught different subjects at several primary and middle schools.

After graduating from Nanjing University, one of China’s top schools, Yuan was offered a job in magazine in Nanjing. But he gave it up and decided to become a teacher. Then Yuan came to Jiangjiawan Village and worked as a volunteer teacher.

As a volunteer teacher, Yuan wasn’t paid. Teaching also turned out to be difficult, because most of the students were left-behind children. Their parents had moved to cities to find work. “I thought I needed to play with them, so they would open up to me,” Yuan said.

To make his classes unusual and interesting, Yuan tried different ways. For example, he brought some tools that appear in books to help students understand the texts better. What’s more, Yuan also paid great attention to his students’ physical health, so he taught his students to climb trees and swim, and set up school football teams. Yuan’s special teaching ways have become popular.

When asked how long he planned to teach in the village, Yuan said he hadn’t made a decision, adding that he valued his freedom more than money. “It’s meaningful to do something I like.” he said.

Nothing stops people from finding joy. In cities across the world, volunteers from Cycling Without Age (CWA) are helping the elderly and the disabled ________ the outdoors by giving them rides.

In 2021, two kind people ________ CWA in Denmark. They wanted to help the local elderly and disabled people get back on their bikes. They created a(n) ________ kind of trishaw(三轮脚踏车). There’s a seat at the front, and it’s for the ________. The rider’s seat is in the back. The special design allows passengers to better see the beauty around them.

Many countries around the world welcome CWA with ________ arms. For example, it arrived in Scotland in 2017. Today people use it for free in ________ every part of the country. Local volunteers have already ________ rides for 43,500 Scots(苏格兰人). They take passengers to ________ some of the most beautiful places in Scotland. Both the riders and the passengers have a good time during the ________.

Although the service is free, the trishaws cost $13,00 each. But that hasn’t stopped people’s ________ for the wonderful trip. From the UK to France, from Canada, the USA, to Australia and Malaysia, CWA is bringing happiness to people in 52 countries.

8 . Are you looking for a good volunteer (志愿者) activity? Get outdoors and go gleaning (拾遗)!

What is gleaning? Well, let’s begin with the problem of food waste on farms. Some farm products are good but look imperfect. Farmers don’t usually try to sell them in markets. Many of them are left to rot in the fields. This is a great waste. And gleaning is about reducing this waste—by collecting the products.

These days, many volunteer groups go out gleaning in order to provide those in need with fresh, healthy food.

Holly’s group is one of them. Her volunteers collect about 300 boxes of food each week. Once, a local fruit farmer called Holly to ask for gleaning services. He had a large field with more than 700 fruit trees. A member of Holly’s group created an online map of the trees. With the help of the map, the volunteers quickly collected the fruit from the trees.

Besides this, Holly’s volunteers have also picked other vegetables from local farms. The food has been sent to food banks and community kitchens in her area.

Gleaning helps solve the problems of farm waste and food shortages (短缺). And gleaners also find the work brings them a sense of achievement. “We can get outside and do something good for the world,” said Holly. “I feel pleased whenever I go gleaning!”