Shanghai seniors living in the rest homes and children of migrant workers yesterday received supplies worth up to 1.06 million yuan (US$138,000) from a United States church charity institute.

The Shanghai Charity Foundation acted as a go-between as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints donated 1,000 wheelchairs to the rest homes in the city's 18 districts and a county, and 400,000 yuan (US$52,253.43) worth of books and other facilities for 11 local schools especially for migrant children.

The church said the traditional Chinese culture inspired it for the charity deeds.

"In Chinese culture there is strong commitment of family, which is an example for the world of family love," said Elwood Zaugg, an official with the LDS Church.

The LDS Church, based in Utah, started to cooperate with Chinese charity organizations, including the China Charity Federation, from the 1980s. It has donated wheelchairs, and drinking-water facilities around the country for 20 years.

(Shanghai Daily June 9, 2007)