Local charities that are giving the city hope l Gafencu Magazine

Covid has affected many lives and businesses in the city across different demographics but many might not realize that local charities have also taken a huge hit during this trying time. With the effects of the pandemic and due to social distancing regulations, it has made them vulnerable even more vulnerable as charities have had to cancel volunteer programs and fundraisers. The closure of restaurants has also put a hamper on daily donations to charities that feed the needy. Nevertheless, these charity organizations continue to push for change and serve the different social needs of the underprivileged.

ImpactHK

The pandemic has left many people out of a job and pushed some to sleep on the streets. ImpactHK, however, is one of, if not the only, highly active charities that are making an impact in the lives of the disenfranchised and homeless in Hong Kong. Founder, Jeff Rotmeyer, has long advocated for children with down syndrome with his first charity, Love 21 Foundation, and the social movement turned registered charity organization, ImpactHK. Rotmeyer has long pushed for the kindness and visibility of the homeless people he calls his friends, by providing them a safe house, free laundry, job opportunities, haircuts and more importantly, kindness, with the support of his active volunteers and staff. The organization has been bold in taking on the most difficult issues and overcoming hurdles in alleviating the homeless issue in the city by constantly setting up new programmes and initiatives to not only help underprivileged communities but offer volunteers a hands-on opportunity to get involved and make a difference.

This Christmas, the charity has organized an art exhibition, Perception 2020 Art Show, that showcases pieces from six different artists at the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre between December 16 and 21

Contact: www.impacthk.org

Box of Hope

With school closures, limited overseas travel and shipping barriers, Box of Hope has experienced some struggles in following through on its annual charity project which delivers over 30,000 boxes of donations from local school children and organizations to children in poverty across Hong Kong and Asia, leaving the children even more in need this year. Nonetheless, co-founder and director, Sian Taylor, is persistent to serve children in need and their families by delivering over 200 boxes of supplies across town. Residents can also spread the joy this Christmas season by participating at the “White Christmas Village” at ELEMENTS. The lavish West Kowloon shopping mall has partnered up with the charity in a “Box of Hope” donation campaign from now until 3 January. For every HK$250 donation, two boxes of gifts will be made in the same amount and be given to children in need.

Contact: www.boxofhope.org

Foodlink foundation

Foodlink Foundation, founded by Vanessa Hwang and directed by her daughter, Robin Hwang, is a local charity that organizes food runs to deliver meals to individuals, children and families living in shelters, street-sleepers, asylum seekers, the unemployed and the elderly. It is one of the local charities that took a hard hit due to the current pandemic. Social distancing regulations led to several food and beverage establishments to close their doors which caused the charity to lose 70% of food donations. Regardless, of the struggles the organization has faced, they continue to push through with their objective to feed the less fortunate in a recent partnership with DBS in setting up a Faster Payment System (FPS) so people can efficiently and conveniently donate on the organization’s website.

Contact: www.foodlinkfoundation.org