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Looking for ways that you can give back in Hong Kong? Here’s how you can make a difference.

Since January, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus has made waves not just in our city, but across the world. As the numbers of those infected increases with every passing day, it’s more important than ever to find ways to give back to our community. From donating basic hygiene and food products, to volunteering your time, here we list just some of the ways that you can give back in Hong Kong, including some of the charities that you can get involved with.
 
See also: Powerful Philanthropy: 5 Ways To Give Back To Your Community In 2020

Donate Hygiene Products

Founded in 2007, local charity HandsOn Hong Kong connects local organisations with the volunteer manpower they need to achieve their mission. Partnering with a number of local charities to support those who have been impacted by the coronavirus, it is now working to provide supplies to our city’s most vulnerable, especially the elderly, low-income families and youth with disabilities. These emergency items range from masks and sanitiser, to household cleaning products, tissue paper and more. You can find the full list of charities that HandsOn Hong Kong is working with, and what supplies are needed here.
 
Other charities across the city including Crossroads Foundation and Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong are accepting donations of hygiene products.

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Above Photo: Courtesy of Anna Shvets via Pexels

Donate Food

Much like hygiene products, staple foods such as rice are in high demand, and charities like Feeding Hong Kong are making it simple for us all to give back. Continuing to work towards its mission of fighting hunger in Hong Kong (and reducing the amount of food being sent to landfill), the charity is welcoming both donations and volunteers.
 
Take a look at its volunteer calendar, to see which areas you may be able to help with, or donate food and hygiene products at its Foodbank. Find out more information here.

Other charities across the city including Foodlink Foundation are also accepting donations of food products.

Join A Kindness Walk

ImpactHK has worked tirelessly for years to help the homeless of Hong Kong, and during the coronavirus outbreak, their work is more important than ever. Helping those that are living at risk, ImpactHK strives to transform the lives of the homeless in Hong Kong.
 
At this time, the charity is serving an extra 800-1,000 meals per week, so it needs our support more than ever in terms of funding and resources. ImpactHK hosts regular Kindness Walks, where 100% of the proceeds go towards helping those less fortunate. The suggested donation is $100 per person, and on the walks participants not only build connections with the homeless community, but also provide and distribute necessities including food, drink, toiletries, clothing and free laundry. Private Kindness Walks for companies and organisations can also be organised on request.

See also: 50 Hong Kong Charities To Support

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Above Photo: Courtesy of Austin Kehmeier via Unsplash

Volunteer

If you have the time, charities across the city including Crossroads Foundation are still looking for volunteers during this time.
 
And if you are a member of the Association of Private Medical Specialists of Hong Kong, you can also volunteer to support to the Hospital Authority here.

Donate Funds

If you don’t have the time or supplies to give, you can still help by donating funds. Even just a small donation can make a huge difference.
 
Charities that are currently accepting monetary donations include:

Save the Children Hong Kong
To date, Save the Children Hong Kong has distributed more than 20,000 face masks and thousands of hand sanitisers to those in need. Beneficiaries include the charity's non-profit organisation partners, community centres and hospitals that serve vulnerable children and their families in Hong Kong. 

Give2Asia
Give2Asia is partnering with leading Chinese nonprofit organisations to support frontline health workers and hospitals responding to the coronavirus crisis

Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong
Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong is dedicated to improving the living conditions of low-income families, the elderly and the disabled in Hong Kong. 

Soap Cycling
Soap Cycling is striving to deliver hygiene kits containing hand soap and sanitiser to various districts across Hong Kong

See also: The State of Philanthropy in Asia

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