On March 27, at the materials and equipment center of the No. 4 Oil Production Plant of Huabei Oilfield, a group of volunteers in red workwear were sorting donated items. Down jackets, winter shoes, books, and new school bags were among the supplies prepared for the "Jingji You'ai" volunteer service team's latest clothing and goods donation drive. In a few days, these items would travel 400 kilometers to reach children in Kangbao County, Zhangjiakou City.
Kangbao County is located in the Bashang area, characterized by rugged hills, chronic drought, weak industrial foundations, and scarce medical resources. It was once a national-level poverty-stricken county. For nearly a decade, the "Jingji You'ai" volunteer team has built deep bonds with local children there. In 2017, several oil workers who could not frequently visit due to shift schedules decided to form a team dedicated to poverty alleviation. What started with just seven members has now grown to over 60 volunteers from various positions within the No. 4 Oil Production Plant.
The path of assistance was not smooth from the beginning. During their first home visit, volunteers arrived at the home of impoverished student Gao Dengke carrying bags of supplies. The family lived in three small, dimly lit adobe rooms, with books piled on the floor, bed, and table. Gao’s own "room" was only three square meters, containing just an adobe bed and a desk. When a volunteer offered him financial aid, Gao refused, saying quietly, "I don’t need pity." That moment made the team realize that goodwill must be offered in a way that allows the recipient to accept it with dignity. After that, they began discreetly providing support through teachers, framing it as a "scholarship." When Gao later learned the truth, he let down his guard. Today, he has graduated from Zhengzhou University, found local employment, and often returns to Kangbao to participate in public service, saying he wants to pass on the kindness he once received.
Another child, Zhang Zixian, also had a difficult start. One winter, seeing her shivering in thin clothes, a volunteer wrapped her own scarf around the girl’s neck. To everyone’s surprise, Zhang burst into tears and ran away. It turned out she had lost her mother at a young age and was unaccustomed to acts of kindness. The volunteer followed her home, helped light the coal stove, washed dishes, and tidied the bed. At one point, Zhang looked up with red eyes and whispered, "You’re like my mom." Over time, she grew close to the volunteer, even telling a neighbor, "This is my oilfield mom." Now a top-performing university student, Zhang still calls her "oilfield moms" to share her thoughts.
Ge Yanan was the first girl to receive one-on-one support from the volunteers. When asked what she wanted for Children’s Day while in fourth grade, she timidly requested a new school uniform—her pants were noticeably too short. When the new uniform arrived, Ge silently stroked the fabric. Asked if she liked it, she looked up with shining eyes and asked, "Can you hug me?" That simple request moved everyone present. Though her family’s situation has since improved and she no longer needs financial aid, Ge still regularly calls to check on her "oilfield moms."
The "Jingji You'ai" volunteers are ordinary oil workers who set aside small amounts from their salaries—10, 20, or 100 yuan at a time—to fund children’s school fees, winter clothes, and supplies. During visits, they take care to offer support discreetly, such as slipping aid money into a backpack or gently placing an arm around a child’s shoulder during photos, ensuring the act of giving feels warm and respectful. Over the past decade, the team has donated nearly 20,000 winter items and contributed over 20,000 hours of service.
From a handful of individuals to a plant-wide volunteer network, and from simple donations to one-on-one support, psychological care, and companionship, "Jingji You'ai" has lit lamps of hope across the Bashang plateau with the sincerity and perseverance of oil workers. Their dedication has earned recognition, including awards for outstanding volunteer service in Hebei Province and honors from the oilfield company.