ZHENGZHOU -- Dawn was just breaking on a spring morning when 79-year-old Meng Laifa pedaled his tricycle out of his home. In the cargo box lay a whetstone, a small hammer and a bottle of water. His destination: Shanqian Xuzhuang village, eight kilometers away.

This was no market day trip. It was a commitment.

Every week, the elderly care volunteer association of Xiangcheng county in Central China's Henan province visits a different village. Meng is one of the oldest volunteers and Shanqian Xuzhuang village marks the association's 271st stop.

Villagers were already lining up with kitchen knives and scissors before Meng could fully set up his tools.

"I'm almost 80. I feel gratified that I can still do something for everyone," Meng said, his hands never stopping the work. Water droplets splashed from the whetstone onto his black apron.

Around him, dozens of volunteers in red vests busied themselves setting up pots, washing vegetables, and arranging tables and chairs. Over 80 percent of this team are seniors over 60: former teachers, small-business owners, and lifelong farmers.

Now, this "silver-haired corps" is adopting an "old helping old" approach, delivering what the even older villagers need most: a hot meal, a haircut at their doorstep, a pair of reading glasses, or simply someone to sit and talk with.

"We can't exactly call it 'help,'" said a volunteer chopping vegetables, chuckling. "We are also drawing energy from them."

This simple, two-way street of caring forms a vivid snapshot of how rural China is responding to an aging society.

China now has over 300 million people aged 60 and above, officially entering a phase of moderate aging. The situation is more pronounced in rural areas, where elderly care services are relatively scarce. In this context, the "old helping old" model taps into a social resource: healthier, "younger" seniors who have time, experience and passion. They are both service providers and potential future beneficiaries.

The association was founded 12 years ago by Song Hongchang in his hometown. It started with just 15 people visiting solitary elders. Today, it has mobilized over 5,000 participants, expanding from providing meals to offering healthcare, haircuts, repairs and cultural performances.

Song admitted the start was rocky. Some suspected them of running a pyramid scheme; they were once reported for failing to disclose their accounts promptly. With local government support, they established a Party branch, carrying the Party flag into villages, gradually building trust.

Now, every 15th of the month is designated a "practice day," where young people from the Communist Youth League, lecturers from the retired cadres bureau, and anti-fraud officers from local police stations join the volunteers, creating a synergy between government and social forces.

"Now, our accounts are disclosed daily. Every donation and expense is transparently posted, and every volunteer's service hours are recorded," Song said. "What keeps us going is government support and some solid rules."

With trust established, services grew. In 2019, Song and volunteers visited an elder who, with poor teeth, struggled to eat and dreamed of biting into an apple. Dentist Sheng Hailiang, who was there, said: "Let me try to fix this."

Days later, a supplier he had contacted agreed to make dentures for the elder free of charge. This initiative was named the "Apple Project": helping those who couldn't bite an apple to finally take a crunch, also symbolizing peace and bringing blessings home.

To date, the "Apple Project" has provided dentures for over 60 seniors. The "love lunch mobile canteen" has traveled nearly 8,000 kilometers across villages, serving more than 170,000 hot meals. The "reading glasses project" has given many elders their first pair of reading glasses.

Across China, such actions are unfolding in education, culture, agriculture and community governance. Tens of thousands of retired teachers have been recruited to support rural education. Various silver-haired help groups have participated in dispute mediation, waste sorting, and neighborhood mutual aid. The World Health Organization's concept of "active aging" is taking root: the elderly are not a burden, but a valuable resource.

In the afternoon, the elders gradually dispersed. Volunteers cleaned up, washed dishes, and rolled up the red carpet. The 272nd village awaited them.

Meng loaded his whetstone back onto his tricycle and headed home. Sunlight spilled onto the country road, stretching his shadow long. Across China's vast countryside, more "silver-haired" volunteers like Meng are adding warmth and strength to an aging society, in their own ways.