Charity wishes for more care workers and nurses
A local charity says it hopes to recruit more care workers and nurses from donations raised during the Operation Santa Claus campaign. Home of Loving Faithfulness (HOLF) is a care home founded in 1965. They offer housing and round-the-clock care for residents with severe intellectual and physical disabilities. Speaking to RTHK's Noreen Mir, HOLF's acting coordinating superintendent Gretchen Ryan says the charity is unlike other care homes in the city. "Everywhere in Hong Kong you can receive care, but it's time-based, age-based, so once you reach, for example, six, you then move to a different residential home, and after age 18 you will move to another home. But at HOLF, we can provide care for the whole lifespan, and, as you all know, it's also for no charge," said Ryan. Relying on donations, HOLF is one of the charities this year to receive funding from the Operation Santa Claus campaign, jointly-organised by RTHK and the South China Morning Post.  Ryan expressed gratitude for the funding and said they would try to recruit more staff. "Nearly every single resident requires 24-hour care... They may be tube-fed, also catheterised and need to be bathed, and cannot sit up and dress themselves, so they require 100 percent care, and that means a whole lot of manpower. We're very grateful for the funding... so that we can continue to build up our manpower." The theme for this year's Operation Santa Claus campaign is "Magic Moments" and 16 charities and good causes will benefit, covering everything from children and youth needs to the environment and help for people with disabilities. To find out more about Operation Santa Claus or to support the campaign, visit the Operation Santa Claus website.