Over 300 local residents have volunteered to help take care of the families of medical staff working in SARS hospitals.
On April 29, the municipal committee of the Chinese Communist Youth League and the Beijing Volunteer Society opened a hotline, 010-65192826, to recruit volunteers.
The hotline has been deluged with applicants from people of allage groups, ranging from 18-61.
"Let me drive an ambulance and I can work 24 hours a day, " said Cao Yongshun, a 58-year old retired driver. "My family supports me."