The evening before the Spring Festival means a warm get-together and a good dinner with family. But, for Mandy, the night has a different meaning: helping beggars(乞丐) and the homeless people. Mandy is a college student. She was at the railway station that special evening. When she saw an old beggar, she took the cold, rough hands of the woman with her warm, clean hands, and gave the woman some warm bread and helped her put on a pair of new gloves. The woman was surprised for a few seconds, then burst into tears(突然大哭), saying for the first time she felt respected. Mandy said, “A beggar’s life is very hard. That’s why I want to help them.”
Mandy was one of 26 volunteers spending the whole night before the Spring Festival in helping beggars. They walked in the cold wind along the streets from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, visiting 15 beggars. They brought bread and gloves. Each beggar was surprised.
“I know the activity can’t help much, but it’s meant to show our respect and care for beggars and the homeless who have been neglected for so long,” said Mandy. “And the night before the Spring Festival is a good time for that.”