Liu Jie, 91, and his 90-year-old wife Wang Guiying have tailored cotton-padded coats to send to disaster zones over the past 17 years. Wu Ni / China Daily

"We're not rich," Liu says.

"And we don't have other skills. This is the only thing we can do for survivors."

Liu is happy their children and grandchildren support their donations.

The coats are sent to disaster survivors through the community's residential committee, which channels them through charities to those who need them.

Committee member and neighbor Chen Wanlan says the coats are of better quality than those the couple makes for themselves.

"They've kept doing this without ever hearing from the people they've helped," Chen says.

"They seek nothing in return."

However, the couple essentially stopped last year because of health concerns.

Wang has cataracts, arthritis and diabetes. She and her husband are experiencing sight and hearing impairments, and trembling hands.

Liu joined the Communist Party of China at 85. He says he only then felt qualified to apply.

Their 30-square-meter apartment contains a small cabinet that displays awards they've won for their charitable deeds.

Community member Gu Chanchan, who knows the couple well, says: "They cherish the awards. But their main motivation is to help people however they can. Such a pure and simple motivation is truly precious today."

Hua Wenjing in Shanghai contributed to the story.

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