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SCMP Reporter

Where? Crossroads Village, 2 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun

What? A non-profit group that accepts out-of-date  or surplus  goods such as electrical appliances, computers, furniture and stationery and redistributes them to people in need - both locally and abroad.

How? Call 2984 9309 or visit www.crossroads.org.hk/help/volunteer for more information. There are lots of goods in the charity's warehouse that need to be processed.

Teen volunteer: Elaine Chik Yee-ning, 19, is a student at Lingnan University. She has been a volunteer with Crossroads International for a year.

'I heard about the organisation a few years ago from an RTHK television programme. They recycle items - not just clothes but also computers and other household goods - and send them to poor countries.

Sometimes, when I help my mum to clean the house, we have to throw things away. Many of them are still in good condition but there is no way we can keep them in the house. Crossroads offers a solution to the problem.

I work in the household department. When people donate things, we check to see if they are OK. We pick out different items and send them to different countries. I try to come two days a week, spending about four or five hours each time.

The most enjoyable thing is working with different people who come from all over the world. I can get to know them and their cultures. You don't always have the opportunity to meet so many different people in one place.

We sometimes receive beautiful goods that have never been used. Once, we received  a  beautiful set of glasses and we were amazed. We wondered why they were being thrown away. Why don't people value their belongings?

The goods may not seem very important to you because you have money. But, in other corners of the world, they mean a lot.

I am now more careful about throwing away things. Before I throw away something, I think about it carefully. Can it be used anymore? Can it be donated to somewhere or to somebody?

I have also started to appreciate people more. People here appreciate your work very much. They are friendly, smile a lot and say 'thank you' to you, even if you don't know their name. I find this very touching.'



Crossroads International