Mrs Chan and her family struggled to make a living during the pandemic. The Jockey Club Food Assistance Programme helped ease their financial burden, enabling them to better support their children's educational needs.
Funded and initiated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club in September 2020, the programme partners with various NGOs and companies to support a range of short-term and long-term food assistance measures, providing over five million meals to people in need. Mr and Mrs Chan joined the programme following an assessment from a social worker. Soon they were ordering home meal deliveries via a special online platform. Mr and Mrs Chan said the programme has saved them several thousand Hong Kong dollars. They have set the savings aside to spend on their children’s education.
In response to the COVID-19 fifth wave, the Electronic Food Bank Service under the programme was expanded, benefitting an additional 30,000 low-income earners. In addition, consultants from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Paediatric Foundation have provided nutrition advice to the programme. The programme has also added an innovative Automated Food Dispenser Service – machines were set up across Hong Kong, allowing flexible collection of cook-chill meals to support those who work irregular hours. Finally, a Hot Meal Service offers free hot meals to individuals and families living in homes where it is inconvenient to cook.
Many full‑time mothers choose to step away from the workplace to grow alongside their children—a journey that is never a pause, but a season of mutual nourishment. As they prepare to step forward again, how do they confront career gaps and self‑doubt, and transform the capabilities and insights accumulated through parenthood into momentum and strengths for re‑entering the workforce?