By Aric

It is the second to the last day of our activities of the FLP program. The morning to the afternoon was free time for everyone, but it was more working time. Some people stayed in their room, others were at the tables of the 2nd floor working on their journals, individual presentations, and the team presentation. We had free time until 4pm so everyone was doing their own thing whether it was sleeping in, doing their assignments, or just hanging out. When it was 4pm, everyone had to meet up at the lobby of the dorm where we went to Sham Shui Po. Zelon, Roy, Kit, Ebby, and Rosanne are PolyU students who came along the trip to the food aid activity. The group traveled to Sham Shui Po by MTR and it only took about 40 minutes. When we arrived, we had to walk through the neighborhood to meet Ming and his colleagues at his restaurant to help with the food aid.

Ming’s current restaurant

The neighborhood in Sham Shui Po was full of old buildings that are not as tall as other buildings in other cities. Ming and his colleagues offered us fresh organic oranges to welcome us. The oranges were sweet and refreshing and it clenched our thirst. It was very busy when were at the restaurant to package the food into containers. The inside was very small and crowded so not all of us could fit in to help aid with packaging. We had a system where we divided into groups so one group would help the restaurant and the other groups would tour around the neighborhood. When we were touring the streets of Sham Shui Po, it was very interesting to learn about the program that Ming do. One of the volunteers who did not expect to work today, he was very kind to inform us about the food aid. The volunteer brought us to the location of the current location of Ming’s restaurant where it is renovating so his restaurant is at the other side being used. Ming’s restaurant is open from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm for the public in eating at the restaurant. When it was at 4pm, it was time for Ming and his colleagues to package the food and to prepare for passing out the food to homeless people in the neighborhood.

Later on, the tour group headed back to restaurant area so everyone had the chance to package the food, but the first group was already done so half of us could not help package the food. The people who did the packaging described it as working in an assembly line with it was very fast pace. Each person had a specific job like one person would put the vegetables, the other would out the meat in the lunch box. Luckily, we all have the chance to pass out the food to the people. It was very interesting when we were waiting for Ming and his volunteer there were special people who are in their formal clothing. I heard it was a mayor who was running for the upcoming election in supporting what Ming is doing and there was press with cameras taking pictures. However, we told the press not to take pictures of us due to our rights of privacy. We were surprised that the mayor and the press were there so it was interesting to see them using Ming’s food aid program for publicity in the upcoming election.

When we finished packing the food, we headed down a couple of streets to where we passed out the food. It was very interesting to see the shelter of these people who are homeless and that they are grouped together and it was kind of sad. It was heart-breaking to see these people who were living there and did not have any sufficient resources for a decent life. As a group, we paired up to pass the food to the people along the alley way and it was very interesting since there are no requirements of who receives them. The food is always for the homeless, and if there are leftovers, it would be given to people are in need, usually older adults.  I was shocked to see so many older adults lining up for the lunch boxes. When we ran out of lunch boxes to pass out, Ming and his colleague passed some vouchers to the people who were unable to get a lunch box. The voucher is a free meal at Ming’s restaurant at any time. Ming wanted to help everyone, but he knows the quantity that it would take to do it is too much where 10,000 people are going wait in line.

After the food aid, we had a session with Ming the person who created this program in giving out free food and being part of the community. Ming talked about how he started where he first wanted to do business in order to make money. However, he did not earn much and he was not very happy with what he is doing. Ming enjoyed the work he is doing by giving out to the community and he was more content than earning money. He started with 20 volunteers and giving out 60 lunch boxes and it expanded after half a year, 200 volunteers with 600 lunch boxes. The food aid of Ming gained recognition from the society where a famous celebrity, Sammo Hung met with Ming and gave $10,000 to Ming to help the community. Ming’s restaurant has been growing and his operation of food aid is widely famous in the Hong Kong areas where others are doing the same thing as Ming. Churches and other agency have been doing food aid and Ming would go to other places to do food aid in order to not duplicate the efforts. Ming has inspired the community where society is now helping him to continue what he is doing for the community.

After thanking Ming for the opportunity to be part of his food aid, we all went to dinner together and enjoy the rest of the Hong Kong night.