A Win-Win Solution

Serving struggling families in Hong Kong and serving disadvantaged people who come to Hong Kong are both primary aims for Christian Action.

About eight years ago I thought of a way we could help to achieve both these aims and at the same time help to save our environment!  I didn't realize back then that we would also be helping every HK resident who lives in a tiny flat with little or no storage space! Here's how we're achieving an all-round win-win solution.

Hong Kong sends 5300 tonnes of 'waste' to landfill every day! Since 2003 we have established four community sales outlets, where household goods are sold that would have probably finished up as landfill 'waste'.

Alex Tang, who regularly shops at one of our outlets said, "I am between jobs, so money is tight. My eight year old son and ten year old daughter are constantly growing out of their clothing and shoes! Shopping at Christian Action helps me reduce the strain on my budget. I'm also grateful that I'm able to buy good quality toys from the outlets because kids need to play!" He smiles and adds, "Our family life is less stressful because of CA's sales outlets."

Our headquarters are strategically nestled between several housing estates, where families who have fallen on hard times have easy access to our services.  We recently expanded and refurbished the Choi Hung outlet where Andy shops which means that we can carry a lot more stock. Sales have doubled as a result! The small annual surplus is used to make up the deficits in our humanitarian programmes, further helping struggling families.

Winsa Wat, one of the newcomers to Hong Kong who was having difficulty finding a job and settling down, did our retail assistance training course, so we offered her a shop assistant position.  Today she is the shop supervisor, and has made many friends here!

So when you give Christian Action your 'waste' you will be helping us to serve struggling families, offer jobs to the unemployed, help save the environment—and give yourself more space in your own home!

Doesn't that give you a good reason to have a clean-out before Christmas?