"The desire to do my best drives me to explore more work methods. I have a pen and notebook by my bed, and when I get new ideas from TV and newspapers, I jot them down and apply them to my community," she said.

In 2009, she led efforts to set up an elder care center that would go on to house 60 seniors, as well as a tutoring center run by volunteers, who pick up children whose parents are working and help them with their homework after school.

Lin also made helpful items, including a card with her phone number so people could contact her and a card offering helpful tips to the residents. She also records the work she does for the people in her diary.

Lin attracted investors to establish community medical clinics that provided free treatment and medicines for the needy.

She often uses her own salary to help children from poor families pay school fees. She took the lead to pair with a family listed as impoverished to subsidize them every month.

Junmen has completely shrugged off poverty, and its work model has been promoted throughout the country.

In 2014, the Lin Dan community work and training base was established in Junmen, and has attracted about 280 community workers from Fujian and other regions to study since then.

Lin has been awarded the National Outstanding Community Worker and National Model Worker.

She became one of 29 people who received the July 1 Medal conferred by the Communist Party of China Central Committee to outstanding members.

"There is no best, only better in terms of community work," Lin said. "To do community work, we must first learn to be human beings and serve other people. Community workers are not managers, but residents' attendants."

Since 1980, Lin has employed a housekeeper to help with her housework. Her mother, in her 90s, is living in a nursing home due to Lin's community work.

"I want to be an attendant for the whole community, not an official. One who treats himself or herself as an official will not stay in the position for long.

"What I fear the most is that I am growing older, and I won't be able to serve the residents any more some day," she said.

Yang Jie contributed to this story.