Senior citizens in Tonglu county, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, are showing their support for China in fighting the outbreak of novel coronavirus-related pneumonia in Hubei province. 

On Jan 30, Tonglu local, 80-year-old Chen Yongmei who lives by herself, paid a visit to Nanmen community, with 3,000 yuan ($433) in her hands. 

"From the television, I've seen how bad the situation is. I've hardly been able to sleep the whole night. The money came from the New Year red envelopes my children gave me. Please see it is donated to those in need." 

This is not the first time Chen has made donations to charity. Living on a retirement pension, the 80-year-old adopts a frugal lifestyle to save "every coin" for the next donation. 

Luo Qiuying, Party secretary of Nanmen community, said her and her fellow officials will live up to Chen's trust and make the most of her donation as soon as possible. 

"I've come to donate, who shall I speak with?" On the same day, Yu Zongming, another Tonglu local, visited Chengnan Community with over 10,000 yuan in his hand. 

"Everything I get is through the courtesy of society and I must return the favor, especially when the virus is paralyzing transport and sabotaging the economy," said the 84-year-old who lives on a retirement pension of some 3,000 yuan per month.

The money was being saved to buy a set of hearing aids but the virus outbreak changed Yu's mind. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of one person," he said. 

A spokesperson for the county's bureau of civil affairs said Yu's donation was the largest it had received from an individual donor since efforts to curb the spread of the virus had started.