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“Do Gospel” with 16 HK’s churches, Food Assistance Projects Benefited over 3,500 people (last update: 10 Dec 2020)

　

　

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting every industry, and the underprivileged such as the lower-income families are bearing the biggest brunt. Since the outbreak, some businesses have closed down while others are facing insolvency. Between December last year and February this year, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7%. Academics are predicting that by the middle of the year the unemployment rate will rise to 4%.[1]　Many people have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. Unfortunately, the new round of anti-pandemic relief measures from the government have not been able to provide these individuals with effective assistance. For the poor who do not have much savings, their situations are dire.

　

In order to provide immediate help to individuals and families that have difficulties in coping with their daily food expenditure in the short term, CEDAR has allocated a total of HK$500,000 to set up the “Journey through Pandemic Crisis – Short-term Food Assistance” Fund. Local churches that have been carrying out community services to help the poor meet their most basic needs are welcome to apply for funding. We hope that with our financial support to these churches, they can in turn provide food relief, free meals in their canteens and discounted pre-packed meals to the underprivileged in their communities.

　

Guided by our operating principle, “From Church, Through Church”, CEDAR has been working with various local churches to alleviate poverty in poor communities. We hope that the poor will have long-term support from their local churches instead of receiving one-off assistance. Pastor Fung from the Church of Livingstones (Hong Kong) worked with CEDAR recently to distribute face masks to the lower-income families in Chai Wan and we got to know many individuals from the neighbourhood. Fung said, “While lending a helping hand during the outbreak, we were able to build rapport with the residents in the neighbourhood. Amid class suspensions, their children encountered difficulties in learning. This inspired us to open a free online Putunghua course for them so that they can really learn at home while the schools are closed.”

　

Pastor Fung (first left) and young volunteers handing out pandemic prevention materials in public housing estates in Chai Wan

　

At the early stage of outbreak, we initiated the “Love in the Time of COVID-19” mask-donating campaign on social media. It was because we were deeply concerned the situation of low-income individuals who could not afford the overpriced masks. With this short-term food assistance fund, we hope local churches will go further in supporting the poor while they fight the pandemic.

　

As the Bible says, we should spend ourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then our light will rise in the darkness. Please donate to support our “Journey through Pandemic Crisis – Short-term Food Assistance” Funding Scheme. Let us join hands in helping the poor weather the pandemic storm.

　

(1) From an article (Chinese) in Ming Pao on 18th March.

　

　

Donation Method (Please specify: COVID-19 – Short-term Food Relief Fund )

1. Online Donation: Click here to donate now
2. Cheque: Please make it payable to CEDAR Fund
3. Direct Deposit: HSBC 600-385678-001 or BEA 015-185-68-00931-7 SSA
4. PayMe: Click Here or Scan the below code to donate


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5. Faster Payment System (FPS ID: 3354016): Login to your online banking to donate through FPS
Please fill in Donation Form, and send the form, cheque, bank-in slip or screenshot of successful payment along with your name, contact phone number and mailing address to us via mail, email or WhatsApp Mailing Address: CEDAR Fund, G.P.O. Box 3212, Hong Kong Email: sharing@cedarfund.org WhatsApp (for donation matters only): 5160 7549
If the donation exceeds the above mentioned allocation of funds, the excess amount will be transferred to CEDAR’s ‘Emergency Relief and Disaster Preparedness Fund’. The fund will enable us to respond to immediate needs, and support disaster mitigation in poor nations always being hit by disasters to reduce the amount of devastation.
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institution and trust of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please visit Inland Revenue Department website for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.