Authorities in charge of women and children's welfare and the local Red Cross association in the city of Suqian, in East China's Jiangsu Province, have taken joint action to help needy mothers citywide.

More than 30 single poor mothers have already received such necessities as warm clothes, quilts, rice and edible oil from the government.

A local government survey shows that there are more than 1,500 single needy mothers in Suqian aged between 31 and 50.

Factors leading to their poverty include young kids, lack of stable income and heavy debts caused by disease.