Planting love: Hong Kong lawyers jazz up garden at care home for disabled in support of Operation Santa Claus
- Volunteer activity, on top of donations, part of Deacons’ 12-year-long commitment to fundraising drive organised by Post and RTHK
- Law firm previously arranged horseback riding for children with Down’s syndrome, painting lessons for drug addicts, and Cantonese opera for deaf adults and children
On a recent Saturday, 17 lawyers, trainee solicitors, and other staff from a law firm in Hong Kong travelled to Sheung Shui, where they spent the morning decorating flower pots and painting old tyres to be used as planters in the garden of a home for disabled people.
The volunteer activity that weekend was part of Deacons’ 12-year-long support for Operation Santa Claus (OSC), an annual fundraising initiative held by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK.
Since 1988, OSC has raised HK$353 million (US$45.4 million) to support the community through 323 charitable projects. This year, its 35th anniversary, OSC is funding 15 charitable projects of worthy causes, including the Home of Loving Faithfulness (HOLF).
HOLF cares for 17 residents with moderate to severe intellectual and physical disabilities, including those abandoned by their families. Since its founding in 1965, it has taken in more than 80 residents, many staying from childhood to old age.
On top of donating money to OSC each year, Deacons staff also volunteer their time. In the past, it has arranged horseback riding for children with Down’s syndrome, painting lessons for drug addicts, and Cantonese opera for deaf adults and their children, among other activities.
