Community Canteens Catering to Elderly Residents

An elderly man (L, front) ladles vegetable onto his plate at a community canteen in Heping Neighborhood, Yuhu District, Xiangtan City on March 19. (Photo/Chen Zeguo, Xinhua)

To provide coinvent dining services for senior residents, Xiangtan's Yuhu District has adopted a "government-guiding and market-oriented" model in recent years to designate professional service institutions to operate community canteens, thereby forming a meal assistance service network for senior residents. As of the end of 2024,  12 community canteens have been built around the district, serving 450,000 meals accumulatively. The community canteens cater to the dietary needs of the elderly, providing low-salt, low-fat, and low-sugar meals. Meanwhile, they offer discounted prices for special groups such as those living in extreme poverty or receiving subsistence allowances. This year, the Yuhu District Civil Affairs Bureau plans to build 10 new community canteens to expand service coverage, enhance meal assistance service quality for the elderly, and ensure a joyful dining experience for senior residents.

A staff prepares for cooking at a community canteen in Heping Neighborhood, Yuhu District, Xiangtan City on March 19. (Photo/Chen Zeguo, Xinhua)

Working staff cook at a community canteen in Heping Neighborhood, Yuhu District, Xiangtan City on March 19. (Photo/Chen Zeguo, Xinhua)

A staff adds newly-cooked dishes at a community canteen in Heping Neighborhood, Yuhu District, Xiangtan City on March 19. (Photo/Chen Zeguo, Xinhua)

A community canteen in Heping Neighborhood, Yuhu District, Xiangtan City. (Photo/Chen Zeguo, Xinhua)

An elderly man (R, front) has lunch at a community canteen in Heping Neighborhood, Yuhu District, Xiangtan City on March 19. (Photo/Chen Zeguo, Xinhua)

A community canteen staff delivers a meal to an elderly man who has difficulty in walking in Heping Neighborhood, Yuhu District, Xiangtan City on March 19. (Photo/Chen Zeguo, Xinhua)