Charltons joins Hike for Hong Kong to provide homemade soup to some of Hong Kong’s most elderly and vulnerable communities

Charltons staff and friends participated in The Hong Kong Stock Exchange Listing Committee’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) event, “Hike for Hong Kong”, on Saturday, 29 October to raise funds for HandsOn Hong Kong (HandsOn) to provide homemade soup and much needed company to elderly people living in poverty here in Hong Kong. This year saw the third annual Hike for Hong Kong.

A large group of participants and volunteers, including members of the Listing Committee and their families, staff of the Listing Department and other staff of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) and other invitees of the HKEX, completed the beautiful 7.6km trail from Pak Tam Chung to Wong Shek Pier in Sai Kung Country Park to give back to the community through HandsOn.  HandsOn is a Hong Kong-registered charity that addresses pressing social needs by mobilising and empowering volunteers to run programmes serving disadvantaged members of the community.

Funds raised from this hike will benefit Soup for the Soul, one of HandsOn Hong Kong’s programs addressing pressing social needs in Hong Kong. Approximately one third of senior citizens in Hong Kong fall below the government’s poverty line. The Soup for the Soul initiative will deliver freshly made traditional soup to elderly citizens who are immobile or living alone, and provide them with much needed nourishment and care.

Stephen Taylor, Chairman of the Listing Committee, said, “While the weather delayed our annual Hike for Hong Kong it did not diminish the enthusiasm from our participants and I would like to personally thank all the listing committee members both past and present, the listing division and their friends and family for joining the walk and making a difference for Hong Kong. I would also congratulate HandsOn and their wonderful volunteers on another fantastic job, both in organising the event and making it an enjoyable and rewarding day.”

Sue Toomey, HandsOn Executive Director, said, “Funds raised through Hike for Hong Kong will support our ‘Soup for the Soul’ program, providing hot, nutritious meals and home visits by volunteers to some of Hong Kong’s most disadvantaged elderly. Programs like this would not be possible without the excellent leadership of the Listing Committee and their continued support through Hike for Hong Kong”.

This is the third year that Hike for Hong Kong has been held, so far raising in excess of HK$1.1 million for some of Hong Kong’s most vulnerable members of the community. Last year’s hike raised funds for HandsOn Hong Kong’s Skills Workshops for People with Disabilities. Many young people with disabilities struggle to secure employment after leaving school and have limited opportunities to integrate into mainstream society. This program helps to teach them skills that can lead to viable employment opportunities. Funds from the 2014 Hike for Hong Kong benefited HandsOn Hong Kong’s Tech for the Elderly programme. Tech for the Elderly involves the collection, data-cleansing and refurbishment of donated smartphones and tablets so they can be recycled for use by elderly beneficiaries. The programme not only increases community engagement and involvement of the elderly but also enables better communication in the event of emergencies.