Volunteers sent midnight snacks, including cakes and milk tea, to night watchmen on duty at inspection stations in Dinghai district, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province on Feb 13.

The snacks were bought by the volunteers using money donated by locals in the district.

The Party committee of the district issued a fund-raising post online calling on residents to donate money to buy midnight snacks for those working on the front lines of the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, on Feb 8.

The committee raised 30,000 yuan ($4,300) from over 400 locals within two days.

"We've used some of the money and bought hamburgers and chicken rolls for night watchmen on Feb 12," said an official in charge of fund raising and management for the Party committee. "At first, we planned to buy bread, milk and biscuits. But given the fact that the watchmen always eat instant noodles, we decided to deliver them some hot snacks."

Local shop owners provided snacks at discounted prices when they knew the snacks would be sent to the watchmen, said the official. 

Moving forward, the committee will continue to buy snacks for the watchmen on duty everyday with the help of local volunteers.