China has established a nationwide network for the collection and distribution of cash, clothing and other materials donated by the public to help disaster-stricken and impoverished people.
A total of 237 donation collection centers have been put into operation in major cities and even a few small cities, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said.
In the last two months of 2001 alone, these centers received 249 million yuan in cash, 52.84 million items of clothing and 173 million yuan-worth of materials given by the public and distributed them to 26.01 million people in need.
The network has made it possible for urban residents to make donations at any time of the year and conveniently near their homes, ministry sources said.
(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2002)
