The Food Bank Feeding Hong Kong is one of the main collaborating organizations for the current food assistance program at Ko Chiu Road Centre of Christ Love For the Aged. Ivy, a welfare officer at the centre, realized that there is a significant demand on food for the elderly at the centre in their daily lives. As a result, she attempted to seek sponsorship to share food with the elderly in the community. The mission of Feeding Hong Kong is to rescue surplus food and give back to the people in need, so the two organizations quickly established a partnership and have maintained a good working relationship for years.
Food recipients at Ko Chiu Road Centre of Christ Love For the Aged.
“Food assistance can help improve the lives of beneficiaries in many ways.”, Ivy said. Regardless of their wealth, the elderly have developed thrifty habits over the years, and without a stable income, they have to bear other expenses in addition to food. Ivy mentioned that while the centre may not be able to provide financial support for medical expenses to the elderly, the most basic need for people is “Food.” Sharing food with beneficiaries indirectly supports them financially, as they no longer have to worry about spending too much on food. This helps alleviate their financial burden and allows them to allocate their money flexibly for medical care, transportation, and even buying warm clothing for winter. “For them, these little savings are already very helpful.”
A donee, Mrs. Ko has been receiving assistance from the food assistance program since its inception. For her, “Every kind of food is appreciated, and we are grateful for any sharing and donations. We are not picky!” Feeding Hong Kong provides suitable food for the target beneficiaries of their charity partners.
With the “Japanese Egg Day” organized by the Aji-No-Chimi, Feeding Hong Kong distributed eggs to the centre, which are suitable for providing healthy meals to the elderly. Ivy raised, “The elderly really love eggs. They are nutritious and convenient to cook in various ways. For beneficiaries in need of food assistance, simple meals are enough to make them feel satisfied.”
Ivy also expressed gratitude to donors for their food donations. The elderly at the centre are aware that the centre receives food donations, and they are very thankful for the care shown by the centre and the donors. Whenever they receive food packages, they happily return home because the food in a large bag is enough to provide them with several meals, indirectly reducing their food expenses. She also encouraged everyone to donate excess food to those in need in society to avoid waste and allow more people to enjoy and benefit from it.
Food recipients at Ko Chiu Road Centre of Christ Love For the Aged.
Centre staff members will always call the elderly to notify them before the food distribution. 86-year-old Mrs. Wong is one of the beneficiaries. She mentioned that the food she receives each time is sufficient for her and her husband to consume for a week, and the money saved enabled them to buy fresh fruits. Elderly residents in the community usually queue up outside the centre to collect food much earlier than the distribution time. Mrs. Wong mentioned that due to the large number of people in need of food, it is not guaranteed that they will receive food every time, and they have to wait for their turn. She also shared, “As we get older, we don’t eat as much as when we are young. Just enough to eat is sufficient. If we have enough, we can leave some for others, and it would be great if everyone can have enough food!” In Hong Kong, up to 3,400 tons of food are sent to landfills every day, while there are still many people in the community who need food assistance and live in poverty. All they need is simple and nourishing meals.
If you also want to give back to the community and help charities like Ko Chiu Road Centre of Christ Love For the Aged, consider donating to Feeding Hong Kong. Your donation will assist more charitable organizations in meeting the community’s food needs and alleviating hunger issues. Please support the community’s food programs by making an online donation. We also accept PayMe and Alipay. Thank you for your support!
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