While most of us worked from home during pandemic waves, thousands kept Shanghai moving – delivery riders zipping through empty streets , sanitation crews disinfecting public spaces
, and postal workers ensuring vital packages arrived
. Now, the city is saying ‘xièxie’ in a big way!
Eight major department stores have launched ‘gratitude kiosks’ – unmanned stations stocked with free snacks, drinks, masks, and daily essentials . Designed for frontline workers who rarely get applause, these pop-up hubs operate on an honor system: Take what you need, no payment required.
‘I grabbed an energy drink during my 14-hour shift,’ said Liu Wei, a food delivery driver. ‘Small kindnesses make tough days brighter.’ The initiative has gone viral on Douyin (China’s TikTok), with residents adding their own contributions to the kiosks.
This heartwarming move highlights how cities globally are rethinking how we value essential workers – one baozi bun and bottled water at a time.
Reference(s):
Shanghai: Unmanned kiosks provide free supplies for unnamed heroes
cgtn.com