Noodle shop owner gives out thousands of free meals to thank street cleaners for their hard work
Restaurant offers free breakfasts to road sweepers and the elderly to help them through the day
A noodle shop owner in southwest China has donated over 20,000 free meals to thank street cleaners and other deserving residents for their hard work, according to media reports.
The shop in Zunyi, Guizhou province named Loving Heart Tofu Noodles, offers free breakfasts for the elderly, the disabled and military servicemen in addition to local street cleaners.
Its owner, Sun Wenzha, has been running the local joint for two years, in which time he has given tens of thousands of free bowls to customers.
Each morning, Sun announces free breakfast for the local street cleaners via a loudspeaker, according to a video published by the Beijing Time website on Wednesday.
“Street cleaners have a very tough job, especially when they have to wake up early in the winter to work – often without eating breakfast,” he said.
Sun added that he hoped his simple act of kindness would help them through their long working hours.
The owner had grown up in poverty himself, and was regularly looked after by relatives.
“I hope to return some of this goodness back to society,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter if I make a bit more or a bit less money.”
Sun hopes to open more stores in the city, according to the video. Last year locals voted him onto a list of the top 10 Zunyi residents.
“We come here every day and he always welcomes us with a smile,” said a female street cleaner surnamed Li who was interviewed in the video.
The plight of China’s street cleaners received widespread public attention earlier this month when photos of a female sanitation worker’s injuries after she was assaulted by a university professor went viral on Weibo.
