Anti-epidemic Community Support Programme

Emergency Relief

Hong Kong

2019 - present

Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation

Epidemic Prevention SuppliesFood Donation

The pandemic has badly hit Hong Kong’s economy and the marginalized population has been the first to bear the burnt. The Foundation has been teaming up with various charitable organisations to distribute food and supplies including anti-epidemic kits and cash vouchers to low-income families being affected. We have reached out to elderly residing alone, single-parent families, residents living in subdivided flats or cage homes, homeless and people with disabilities, to help addressing some of their immediate needs.

The Staged Approach of CTFCF’s Anti-epidemic Community Support Programme

Since the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, the Foundation’s Anti-epidemic Community Support Programme has adopted a staged, three-pronged approach to address the most pressing needs of the community and help the disadvantaged overcome adversities.

During the fifth wave of COVID-19, the Foundation

1. Provides timely relief

The Foundation teamed up with various charitable organisations to promptly address the urgent need for anti-epidemic supplies and self-quarantining at home between early and mid-March.

In partnership with Caritas Youth and Community Service, the Foundation provided over 600 anti-epidemic kits which consist of rapid antigen test (RAT) kits, digital thermometer, medical supplies such as paracetamol with instruction sheets and cash coupons for low-income families in Aberdeen, Western District, Kowloon City and Kwun Tong.

The Foundation also worked with Chain of Charity Movement and Centre for Gerontological Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to distribute bottles of disinfectant alcohol to the elderlies.

2. Bridges the unmet needs

The Foundation also pledged support to the second and third phases of “Grants for Frontline Staff at Residential Care Homes for the Elderly” scheme launched by St. James’ Settlement and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service via CTFE Social Solutions in partnership with The D. H. Chen Foundation and Kerry Group between mid-March and early May. The scheme has provided a maximum of HK$15,000 per person to 300 qualified staff of residential care homes to reduce the risk of infection while enabling frontline staff to enjoy a worry-free life after work.

3. Supports post-pandemic recovery

Initiated by the Foundation, the initiative sowed the seeds of solidarity and fostered cohesion in indigenous communities by connecting disadvantaged and vulnerable groups with local small businesses – “district-based” consumption vouchers were distributed through local NGOs between July and December in 2021, which helps address the pressing needs of the underprivileged, promoting mutual support and social cohesion.

In light of the soaring fifth wave of COVID-19, the second phase of the initiative has added nine funders, namely Chan Cheung Mun Chung Charitable Fund, Fu Tak Iam Foundation, Kadoorie Charitable Foundation, Kerry Group, Lee Hysan Foundation, Lee Kum Kee Family Foundation, Si Yuan Foundation, Simon K.Y. Lee Foundation and ZeShan Foundation (in alphabetical order), to provide greater support for the community between April and September in 2022 on post-pandemic economic recovery.

Underpinning the initiative is 10 organisations with a total fund of HK$14 million, it aims to provide vulnerable communities across 12 districts in the city with consumption vouchers of HK$400-600 for food and necessities from local small stores, benefiting 20,000 people from approximately 7,500 families, including elderlies, low-income families, sub-divided flats residents and unemployed.

The new phase of the initiative represents a culmination of efforts with a strong focus on partnership with 12 non-governmental organisations and approximately 200 local small stores to achieve three main objectives:

Easing the financial burden of underprivileged families with food aid and emergency supplies
Supporting minority-owned small businesses in difficult times by supplementing their income and stimulating consumption
Strengthening neighbourhood support networks and boosting communal harmony by facilitating bonding between the underprivileged and their communities

At the beginning of the outbreak of the fifth wave of COVID-19 outbreak, the Foundation teamed up with various charitable organisations to promptly address the urgent need of anti-epidemic supplies and self-quarantining at home, including partnering with Caritas Youth and Community Service to provide over 600 anti-epidemic kits to low-income families in Aberdeen, Western District, Kowloon City and Kwun Tong.

Courtesy: Caritas Youth and Community Service

The anti-epidemic kit consists of rapid antigen test (RAT) kits, digital thermometer, medical supplies such as paracetamol with instruction sheets and cash coupons.

Courtesy: Caritas Youth and Community Service

Initiated by the Foundation, the “Wu Wu Cheng” Community Mutual Support initiative sowed the seeds of solidarity and promoted cohesion in indigenous communities by connecting the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups with small businesses – “district-based” consumption vouchers were distributed through local NGOs between July and December last year. It helps address the pressing needs of the underprivileged, promoting mutual support and social cohesion.

Courtesy: Outreaching Support Team of Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service

Bringing warmth to the underprivileged communities: Grassroot families residing in sub-divided flats in Kwai Chung had the opportunity to enjoy Poon Choi (big bowl feast) for the first time during the winter solstice. The children of the alias Ho family said that they had never seen many of the food items in the meal and insisted to wait for their grandma to eat together. They felt so grateful to be surrounded by love.

Courtesy: The Urban Peacemaker Evangelistic Fellowship

Neighbours helping each other: Elderly lady alias Ms. Yu is one of the beneficiaries of the first phase of the "Wu Wu Cheng” Community Mutual Support initiative, who resides in Tai Kok Tsui in Yau Tsim Mong district. With impaired physical mobility, she has to stay at home most of the time. A kind-hearted neighbour alias Ms. Yu volunteered to help her get the favourite food items with the consumption vouchers, showing the spirit of neighbourhood solidarity.

Courtesy: Concern for Grassroots’ Livelihood Alliance

Helping people to help themselves: Residing in a sub-divided flat in Tsz Wan Shan, Ah-Hung is one of the beneficiaries who volunteered to support the “Wu Wu Cheng” Community Mutual Support initiative by inviting small shops in the area to participate as a merchant and accept the initiative’s consumption vouchers. “I hope my children can also learn to serve others as what I have done,” said Ah-Hung. After receiving the consumption vouchers, her son, a Primary 4 student, joined her to help some elderly with mobility limitations get their food items, and helped distributing anti-epidemic kits to cleaners. “Most important is to help each other because some people have a greater need than we do,” she added.

Courtesy: People Service Centre

Helping people to help themselves: Ali, who resides in Tuen Mun, revealed that there is a lack of support for South Asians in the area. He is currently working two jobs to earn a living. Although he only lives with his wife and two children in Hong Kong, Ali bears a heavy financial burden as he needs to support a family of more than 10 in Pakistan. He felt a great relief when receiving the food supplies. His wife also became a volunteer helper afterwards.

Courtesy: The Urban Peacemaker Evangelistic Fellowship

Reaching out to more hidden sub-divided households: "Through the 'Wu Wu Cheng’ Community Mutual Support initiative, we were able to visit some tenement buildings in Yau Tsim Mong district by going floor by floor and proactively reaching out to hidden sub-divided households that are not covered by our regular services, including some elderlies living alone in coffin-sized units, to help solve their livelihood problems,” said Mr. Sam Wong, Executive Director from Concern for Grassroots’ Livelihood Alliance, one of the NGO partners.

Courtesy: Concern for Grassroots’ Livelihood Alliance

Resources

[Press Release] Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation Unveils Second Phase of “Wu Wu Cheng” Community Mutual Support Initiative Under Its Anti-epidemic Community Support Programme To Support The Underprivileged & Strengthen Community Connection

[Backgrounder] Second Phase of “Wu Wu Cheng” Community Mutual Support Initiative

[Newsclipping] CTF Charity Foundation launched of the second phase of “Wu Wu Cheng” Community Mutual Support initiative, distributing district-based consumption vouchers to support small stores (am730 | 22 Apr 2022) (Chinese only)

[Newsclipping] CTF Charity Foundation launched of the second phase of community support, distributing consumption vouchers to vulnerable communities (HK Commercial Daily | 22 Apr 2022) (Chinese only)

[Newsclipping] The disadvantaged mother of two children redeemed a box of lunch with consumption vouchers enough for three from a kind-hearted eatery (HK Economic Times | 29 Apr 2022) (Chinese only)

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