Today(8th October) is Cold Dew, marking the formal arrival of late autumn. As the saying goes, "At White Dew, do not expose the body; at Cold Dew, do not expose the feet." Cold arises from the feet, and the chill in the mornings and evenings becomes increasingly pronounced. Compared with the slight coolness of White Dew, temperatures during Cold Dew decline further, and the weather shifts from "warm dryness" to "cool dryness." The human body becomes prone to discomforts such as dry mouth and throat, cracked skin, and dry cough. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that health preservation at this time should focus on nourishing yin and preventing dryness, and on moistening the lungs and benefiting the stomach. The diet should be mainly gentle, moistening, sweet and mild, so as to protect the spleen and stomach, which begin to show signs of fatigue after the onset of autumn.

For this solar term, the following three seasonal vegetables and one fruit are recommended — fresh and good value: Dill, Choy Sum, Indian Lettuce and Guava.

In August, Hong Kong was still in midsummer, with hot weather and frequent showers. Facing the intense heat and unstable weather, our food rescue operations nevertheless continued steadily across fourteen districts in Hong Kong, successfully delivering rescued food into the hands of our neighbours.

This month, volunteers were deployed on 425 occasions, collecting more than 10,000 breads in total, as well as nearly 2,000 items of fruit, canned food and snacks, with a total weight of 1,456.84 kilogrammes. This sustained and steady support relied entirely on every volunteer who, despite the intense heat, remained steadfast at their posts and contributed quietly.

You are sincerely invited to register as a volunteer to help us continue delivering rescued food smoothly into the hands of those in need!

To register as a volunteer, please scan the QR code or click the link:

https://www.foodcommons.hk/en/volunteers

Today is the Autumn Equinox; autumn is officially halfway through. On this day, the sun shines directly on the Earth's equator, and daytime and nighttime are almost equal in length, each lasting 12 hours. After the Autumn Equinox, daylight becomes shorter and shorter, and nighttime becomes longer and longer. The weather turns noticeably cooler, and the dry "autumn dryness" also becomes stronger. At this time, health preservation focuses on moistening dryness and nourishing yin, tonifying the lungs and replenishing qi. The diet should be clear, moistening, and mild, to prepare the body for late autumn.

For this solar term, the following three seasonal vegetables and one fruit are recommended; they are fresh and good value:

Green Beans, Shanghai Bokchoy, Chili Ppper and Pomelo

In the year from August 2025 to July 2026, Food Commons@Shatin recovered about 133,367 kilograms of food in Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Ma On Shan, and Fo Tan. Of that total, about 132,908 kilograms (99.66%) were distributed, benefiting 194,579 persons.

We thank the Environment and Conservation Fund for its funding and support; merchants and organisations for their generous donations; and all staff and volunteers for their dedication, rain or shine. Looking ahead, Food Commons@Shatin will continue to deepen its roots in the community and carry forward the concepts of “cherishing food” and “sharing.” We sincerely thank all parties for their support and look forward to continuing to work hand in hand in the coming year, contributing to environmental protection and the community.

Many of you are probably starting to receive mooncake gift boxes as the Mid-Autumn Festival draws near. If you find yourself with more mooncakes or festive treats than you need—and realize you might not finish them before their "best-before" dates—why not donate the surplus to families in need while they are still fresh? It's a great way to keep the holiday joy alive.

Let's work together to save food and assist others, treasure food and blessings, and celebrate a joyous Mid-Autumn Festival.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, mooncakes remain the highlight of the celebratory table. However, year after year, the problems of "buying too much" and "not being able to finish it" linger, making mooncakes a significant cause of waste. This year, the Food Commons Foundation, in collaboration with Food Grace, will continue to encourage waste reduction at the source and food conservation as a "Green Partner" during the festival!

May you buy what you need, eat what you desire, and experience the joy and warmth of the Mid-Autumn Festival.