‘A big help’: how Hong Kong charity Foodlink Foundation reduces both food waste and hunger
- Foodlink Foundation is among 15 charities backed by Operation Santa Claus, an annual fundraising drive
- ‘At least we elderly people have more to eat now,’ says a 66-year-old retiree who lives on monthly government subsidy of HK$4,000
Every morning, charity Foodlink Foundation sends its fleet of vans to supermarkets and retail chains across Hong Kong to pick up food that would otherwise go to waste, such as soon-to-expire pasta and slightly bruised or overripe fruit.
Boxes full of fresh produce and packaged food are then delivered to Foodlink Mart, the charity’s 250 sq ft store located in a shopping centre in Kwun Tong.
The store’s manager and elderly volunteers work feverishly to unpack the boxes, placing the apples, oranges, bananas and other items on shelves to be given to people from low-income families, who drop by twice a week to pick up a bag of groceries free of charge.
“Because it’s a shop for them, it gives dignity back to them,” said Aurea Yung Yee-wah, the charity’s head of operations.
The charity opened the store in April after it received support from Operation Santa Claus (OSC) last year, an annual fundraising drive held by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK.
