Charity plans to extend food assistance project
In a humble mall in Kwun Tong sits a store that offers hot and healthy meals for the needy. This year, the group's wish for expansion will be granted by funding from the Operation Santa Claus campaign. To reduce food waste and fight hunger, Foodlink Foundation delivers safe-to-eat surplus food from hotels and food and beverage outlets across Hong Kong to those in need. Half a year ago, the group opened a 200-square foot "We Love Green Food Store" in Kwun Tong, providing excess fresh produce from its supermarket partner to homeless people and low-income families in the area. The group's head of operations, Aurea Yung, says the food assistance project is believed to already have served more than 2,000 individuals in its first year of operation -- and the demand for it is only increasing.  "There are always enquiries and actually we have a queue for some beneficiaries who want to get in, but we don't have enough quota... If we could have a bigger store and we could serve more beneficiaries, I am sure this would be even more impactful," Yung told RTHK's Janice Wong. Recounting a conversation with an elderly woman who is one of the store's beneficiaries, Yung added that this year's donation from the Operation Santa Claus campaign will be dedicated to improving the store's operations so that they can serve more people. "She only lives on a few thousand dollars every month... Often she cannot afford to buy fresh food for herself. She also has a lot of food that she hasn't tried in her lifetime, she said, because they are too expensive. But with this assistance project, she could have the opportunity to taste a lot of food... like chocolate. She was very happy and she said, 'Please continue with this project.'"  "Still this is a new concept in the market so there are some procedures that are not running at 100 percent yet, so we keep on improving how people come, at which time slots, and then how can we further help those who cannot come to the store in person," Yung said. The theme for this year's campaign is "Magic Moments" and 16 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.