Giving back to the needy

Serve-a-thon, the annual community service week organized by local charity HandsOn Hong Kong, is returning from May 11 to 19.

Citizens and groups will be mobilized to support a wide range of charity services, from helping refugee families and the unemployed to protecting Hong Kong's nature and coastlines.

In a recent survey of 26 local front-line NGOs, the charity found 73 percent have budgets less than HK$10 million per year and 58% with less than HK$5 million - not nearly enough to properly serve their target groups. HandsOn Hong Kong executive director Catherine Tong Dannaoui said: "With Hong Kong facing various social and economic challenges, our resilient communities are coming together to support the underserved groups who need our help the most."

Volunteers have given over 25,000 hours to support more than 70,000 people in need. Last year, the event served 15,176 beneficiaries, contributing a total of 1,874 hours to 159 separate volunteer activities in just nine days of service.