Put food in stomachs, not landfills: Hong Kong charity wants to alleviate hunger and reduce waste

For more than two decades, an organisation in Hong Kong channelling excess food from various sources to the needy has been pursuing a happy ideal: replacing hunger with a smile. Now, Foodlink Foundation Limited is set to bring even bigger smiles to the underprivileged with a new project that is believed to be the first of its kind in Hong Kong. “Our mission is to provide a nutritious and healthy meal to every needy person in Hong Kong while simultaneously reducing the pressure on our landfills,” said Aurea Yung Yee-wah, Foodlink’s head of operations. “Hong Kong’s poverty rate has been rising, especially during Covid-19,” she noted, adding that about 1.65 million, or one-fifth of Hongkongers, lived in poverty. On the other hand, she said, some 3,300 tonnes of food waste were disposed of at landfills in Hong Kong every day. That staggering number accounts for 30 per cent of total municipal solid waste dumped at the city’s landfills, the highest percentage among all refuse categories. “We collect safe-to-eat surplus or near-expiry food from different sources and deliver it to our NGO partners, who in turn distribute the food to the underprivileged they serve,” Yung said. “While reducing food waste, we also help alleviate hunger.” Hong Kong charity helping migrant workers dreams one day it will not be needed A variety of cooked, packaged and refrigerated foods and drinks are collected, including meat, pasta, noodles, rice, bread, fruit, vegetables, biscuits, yogurt, milk and juice. Among the food sources are hotels, food and beverage outlets, corporate and school canteens, clubs, food distributors, caterers and supermarkets. In 2021, Foodlink collected 566 tonnes of surplus food, equivalent to more than 1.3 million meals, for people in need. The organisation has said it was now planning a new project to add to its existing service. “We will set up a pop-up store where individuals in need can get food directly from us,” she explained. “It’s a new concept. We believe this operation model is the first of its kind in Hong Kong. It will enable us to be even more effective, efficient and direct in serving the underprivileged.” The food will come mainly from a supermarket chain. Explaining the rationale for the store, Yung said: “The amount of surplus food for donation is growing as supermarkets and food supply chains are stepping up their sustainability efforts. “Meanwhile, the underprivileged community is being hard hit by the unstable and costly food supply as the global food system is at risk amid the conflict in Ukraine and the early impact of climate change. “So a more efficient and direct distribution outlet is needed to cope with the increased supply and to mitigate the impact of food insecurity.” Needy individuals referred by Foodlink’s NGO partner Amigos HK will be entitled to pick up their allotments of food at the store. “Another objective of the project is to empower the beneficiaries of the store, as we will recruit them to run it as volunteers so that while receiving they can also give back and contribute to society. This will give them self-confidence and feelings of self-worth,” Yung said. The project aims to feed 1,720 underprivileged people with 134,160 meals and empower 100 volunteers in each 12-month cycle. The store is expected to be set up on a public housing estate in eastern Kowloon by early 2023. The project is funded by Operation Santa Claus (OSC), an annual fundraising drive by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK. Marking its 35th anniversary this year, OSC has raised HK$353 million (US$45 million) since its launch in 1988 to support the Hong Kong community through 323 projects. Foodlink is one of 15 charities benefiting from OSC this year. Hong Kong NGO uses sport to empower women and break down stereotypes Founded in 2001, Foodlink has been a registered Hong Kong charity since 2009. It works with 130 NGO partners, including Amigos which delivers food to the elderly and underprivileged. “Rising food prices are putting a lot of pressure on grass-roots people and the elderly who are living from hand to mouth. Foodlink’s service helps reduce their food expenses and ease their problems,” said Grace Tse Wai-ling, executive director of Amigos. “The elderly people are very happy each time they receive food from us,” she said with a smile. For more information on this year’s beneficiaries, please click here.