Electricians from the local electric power company help elderly people repair small appliances in Fenghua district, Ningbo. [Photo/people.com.cn]

The district of Fenghua in Ningbo, Zhejiang province has a team of more than 1,000 electricians who have done voluntary work for local residents over the past 27 years.

Repairing light bulbs, switches and electric wires in nursing homes, kindergartens and low-income family homes has been part of their lives. "We wanted to make full use of our techniques to help others," said Hu Sheng, one of the first five members of the team, recalling their original motivation.

Five young people from Fenghua electric power company started the service visits in March of 1990, when most skilled people preferred to set up stalls and wait for people to ask for help. Their first stop was a nursing home where there was no full-time electrician and many bulbs and switches were broken. "We spent a whole day fixing all the electric problems there and the old people's thankful words really moved us," Hu said. "These tiny things, which were easy for us, offered timely help for these people." A volunteer team was officially founded in the company after that special experience.

Over the past 27 years, every time they got a call from someone in need, they responded immediately whenever and wherever.

Lin Shannian, a man in his eighties, can name several volunteers without thinking. He said the service card with the volunteers' phone numbers is his most treasured possession.

The service cards from the electric power company have been distributed to more than 1,000 families, organizations and individuals, including empty nesters, the handicapped and poor families.

The electricians have inspired a lot of people to participate in voluntary work in Fenghua. So far, there have been 12 teams, 227 service stations and over 1,600 volunteers providing services in different sectors such as health care, education and environmental protection.

Local residents of Ningbo's Fenghua district get haircuts with the help of volunteers. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]