Young men performing substitute work in lieu of compulsory military service are delivering hot lunches from two schools in Miaoli County's Yuanli Township to elderly residents in the school district.
Conscripts in the alternative service program assigned to the school help distribute the meals every school day regardless of the weather, for only NT$32 (US$0.99) per meal.
Lan Tien Elementary School Principal Wu Rong-hui said his school district has few stores and even fewer restaurants, making it quite difficult for local elderly residents, especially those who have mobility problems, to feed themselves. Two and a half years ago, the school began delivering free meals to nearby elderly people over 80 years old who live alone and seniors over 70 years old who have trouble getting around. Later on when some claimed the free meals might violate the principle of fairness, it was decided to charge the elderly NT$32 per meal.
At present, seven elderly people from four neighborhoods in the school district – Taitian, Nanshi, Shangguan, and Yutian – receive these lunches from conscripts doing alternative service at Lan Tian or Chi Min Junior High School from Monday through Friday. The conscripts at the two schools deliver the meals on a rotating basis.
Conscript Lee Zhen-wei, an alumnus of Lan Tian Elementary School who recently took over the lunch-delivery work, looks upon these old folks as his own grandparents; he talks to them as he conducts his deliveries and feels like he is doing a good deed, giving him pleasure in what he does.
Lee said his concerns for the old folks have always prompted him to make the delivery regardless of the weather, adding that he knows that the service he is providing is extremely meaningful, especially when he sees the smiles on the faces of the old folks receiving their lunches. Principal Wu said both the meals and the delivery services are deeply appreciated by the old folks, and as long as funding and manpower permit, the school will continue to provide the service.
(This article originally appeared in The Liberty Times June 8.)