Sept 2017 - Hope of the City Newsletter
Beach Clean-up Family Day
On Sept 16, thirty parents and kids from J-Life in Sham Shui Po did their bit for the environment. They joined hands with 135 volunteers from Bank of America Merrill Lynch for a Beach Clean-up Family Day at Stanley Beach. With their combined sweat in the 33 C heat, they collected more than 40 bags of rubbish in 1.5 hours. Hot but joyful, each child received an appreciation certificate from Ocean Conservancy for their efforts. This was the first time many of the kids had been to Stanley, so plenty of time was allotted for them to enjoy the local attractions and dive into some well-deserved giant pizzas. No surprise that every child fell asleep during the long coach ride home. Thanks, everyone, for helping to keep our beaches clean!
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Supporting Tai O
When Typhoon Hato hit Hong Kong on Aug 23, parts of Tai O had to be evacuated due to severe flooding. A Hope of the City volunteer, Esther Sham, quickly organized a team to go and pray for the fishing village, where they discovered many residents had lost household items to the filthy flood waters. Enterprising Esther enlisted a friend, Sammi Cheng, to donate and deliver fridges, cookers, washing machines, a mattress and a TV to the victims, while Hope distributed spray guns to help with the clean-up. In return, we received hearty invitations to stay with the villagers whenever we visit Tai O!
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Volunteer Orientation
We’re always excited when new volunteers join Hope of the City, so we were delighted to see 37 people sign up for our latest Volunteer Orientation and Training Session on Sept 17. These informal sessions give us an opportunity to introduce ourselves, outline our programs, and offer some practical insights into what it means to serve the poor and how to go about it. If you missed the orientation but want to get involved in volunteering for Hope of the City, let us know and we’ll sign you up for the next one. |
SSP Xperience for Island ECC Staff
Our most recent SSP Xperience ran from Sept 29-30, when 20 Island ECC staff and family members spent a night in a Sham Shui Po youth hostel as part of a poverty engagement opportunity. They visited families living in subdivided homes to deliver some Mid-Autumn Festival treats, served hot drinks to street sleepers and heard moving testimonies from two SSP residents whose lives have been transformed by the power of Christ’s love.
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Groovin’ and Movin’ at IDEAL
It was definitely party time on Sept 16, when five energetic volunteers from St David’s Society brought fun and laughter to our quarterly IDEAL Birthday Party in Sham Shui Po. Some 40 young people with intellectual disabilities had a wild time playing games, dancing and even forming a conga line as they celebrated those marking birthdays. Of course, the party wouldn’t have been complete without the usual delicious spread of cakes and treats prepared by many loving moms. We can’t wait for the next party!
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Bringing Smiles to NTK Elderly
Another round of Elderly Home Visits kicked off on Sept 23 in Ngau Tau Kok. In partnership with St. James Settlement (NTK), this fall Hope of the City has 55 volunteers visiting 76 elderly people each month to deliver some cheerful conversation and a small goodie bag. These seniors either live alone or are in need of some caring attention, and there are many more like them who are wishing for visitors. If you’d like to join our home visits program and bring a smile to a por por’s face, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you. |
Through these stories and visits, plus a guided tour of SSP led by a former street sleeper, they got a glimpse of the great need that exists in our city, and what’s being done about it. It was a truly memorable experience for all.
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