About 3,000 tonnes of food waste is discarded in Hong Kong every day. While most of them are still edible, they are sent to landfills. However, in the community, there are over a million elderly or grassroots people who do not have enough food to eat. Excessive leftover food leads to wastage and increases the load in landfills. Since 2009, Food Commons Foundation’s Food Sharing Action has been connecting organizations in different districts establishing a resource network of solving leftover food problem. Up till now, it has already saved over 10,000 tonnes of surplus food that were supposed to be thrown away in landfills. It shared the same weight as 707 double-decker buses. The total number of beneficiaries was close to 10 million people, including the elderly, low-income people or families, children, disadvantaged groups, etc. 

When we think of where to go on holiday and what delicious food to enjoy and check in, in fact, lots of elderly people and grassroot families in Hong Kong do not have enough food. Yet, Hong Kong’s leftover food problem turns out to be severe. As a charity organization that mainly solves leftover food problems, Food Commons Foundation has “saved” an accumulated 10,000 tonnes of leftover food that were supposed to be sent to landfills! The organization has been recruiting volunteers to participate in food collection action in different districts. If you are concerned about the surplus food problem, how can you give a helping hand?    

Every day in Hong Kong, there are about 3,000 tonnes of food waste. Most of them are still consumable, but they are sent to landfills. However, in the community, there are over a million elderly or grassroots people who do not have enough food to eat. Excessive leftover food leads to wastage and increases the burden of landfills. A series of problems caused by food waste have a wide impact on the economy, people’s livelihood, environmental pollution and social development. In view of this, Food Commons Foundation’s Food Sharing Action was officially launched in 2009. It is the first food sharing action in Hong Kong that combines environmental protection and community mutual assistance. With a focus on the community, it connects groups from different districts to establish a resource network that can tackle the problem of food waste.  

About 3,000 tonnes of food waste is discarded in Hong Kong every day. While most of them are still edible, they are sent to landfills. However, in the community, there are over a million elderly or grassroots people who do not have enough food to eat. Excessive leftover food leads to wastage and increases the load in landfills. A series of problems caused by food waste have a wide impact on the economy, people’s livelihood, environmental pollution and social development. In view of this, Food Commons Foundation’s Food Sharing Action was officially launched in 2009. It is the first food sharing action in Hong Kong that combines environmental protection and community mutual assistance. With a focus on the community, it connects groups from different districts to establish a resource network that can tackle the problem of food waste. 

The sky is clear after the rain and volunteers continued with their action. During the distribution of bread period, a volunteer discovered a granny sitting near the roadside and gave her the bread on hand. It was unexpected she was so touched that she burst into tears and immediately kept saying thank you. Through collecting and sharing food did we come across the neglected in the community and spread warmth and care to their hearts.  

Accidents will happen. It was unexpected that after a once-in-a-century heavy rainstorm, food collecting and sharing action had to be reluctantly called off in many districts. However, volunteers are still looking forward to the days when we can do everything we can to reduce food waste and deliver food to those in need.