Hong Kong Charities To Support This Christmas And Holiday Season

What better way to celebrate Christmas than by giving back to our community with these Hong Kong charities?

While 2020 has been a struggle for us all there’s no question that some members of the community have taken a bigger hit than others. There’s no act of kindness is too small, so we’ve rounded up some options for you and your kids to show some love to others this year.

Whether you’re looking to run for charity, or are simply planning to donate your used alphabet books, here are some Hong Kong charities to support this Christmas. 

Read more: Where To Volunteer In Hong Kong

A favourite tradition in the Sassy Office each Christmas is putting together gifts for Box Of Hope. Due to the COVID restrictions this year BOH won’t be collecting its signature gift boxes, but that doesn’t mean that you and your family can’t get involved. Box Of Hope is accepting donations and will put together as many gift boxes as it can to distribute to those in need.

Box Of Hope, www.boxofhope.org

Operation Santa Claus (OSC) is back and you’re invited! Unlike traditional charities, OSC is an annual charity campaign jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and Radio Television Hong Kong to raise funds for a number of worthy Hong Kong beneficiaries. With so many worthy causes to choose from – from the Hong Kong Children In Need Foundation to Enrich HK – you can rest assured your donation will make it to a worthy cause. 

Operation Santa Claus, 19/F, Tower 1, Times Square, 1 Matheson St., Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 2680 8159, [email protected], osc.scmp.com

Founded in 2006, Angels For Children (AFC) offers financial support and assistance to children’s charities in Hong Kong and other parts of South-East Asia.

This year, AFC is bringing back its annual Secret Santa gift donation event to support the children of Po Leung Kuk and the Society for Community Organization. It’s looking to collect over 400 gifts this year so why not donate and be someone’s guardian angel? 

As a part of its regular fundraising, AFC will continue to offer its popular Angels Zumba® classes (run in the clubhouse at Bamboo Grove, Wan Chai), with a suggested donation of $50+ at the door. 

Angels For Children Limited, 15/F, Nexxus Building, 41 Connaught Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, 3757 9524, www.angels-for-children.org

With an array of charitable events throughout the year, HandsOn Hong Kong aims to empower the public to volunteer and serve our community. Check out its calendar to get involved and give back to a cause you’re passionate about this Christmas! There are opportunities ranging from beach clean-ups to food prep and meal deliveries. Look out for the specific “Youth Opportunities” to get your teens actively involved. 

HandsOn Hong Kong, Unit A, 9/F, Easy Tower, 609-611 Tai Nan West Street, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2481 8092, [email protected], www.handsonhongkong.org

With a mission to end modern slavery, Running to Stop The Traffik is a charity best known for hosting the 24 Hour Race (the largest youth-led abolitionist movement in the world).

This year the race is going virtual AND global! Your kids need to join a team of five and run then run for 24 hours each (or more!) in a 24-day period (pick your dates between Sunday, 1 November and Sunday, 20 December). The team that runs the furthest wins. Easy!

Having hosted over 4,000 participants from 60 schools in Hong Kong since 2010, the 24 Hour Race should be no stranger to fellow mamas. While only high school students are allowed (sorry, mamas!), anyone can get involved by directly donating, sponsoring racers, or by purchasing race merchandise from the online shop.

Running To Stop The Traffik, [email protected], 24hourrace.org

KELY Support Group is a Hong Kong non-profit organisation that aims to empower young people and support their mental health. With this year’s school closures and uncertainty in the city, its services have never been more important. Your family can get involved by donating, fundraising or volunteering.

KELY Support Group, 2/F, East Wing, 12 Borrett Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2521 6890, [email protected], kely.org

Time to get out there this Christmas and spread the gift of love! Established in 2003, CWSHK is a charity that funds projects to support Nepal’s disadvantaged children. From vocational training to child protection, it aims to lift Nepal’s next generation out of poverty and into a life with dignity.

With many fundraising events cancelled this year, it’s best to get in touch to find out how you can volunteer, “fun”raise or even visit (when travel to Nepal reopens).

CWS HK, Unit A1, 11/F, Victory Factory Building, 16 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuck Hang, Hong Kong, 2526 8810, [email protected], cwshk.org

Founded in California, this award-winning foundation serves to strengthen family bonds by promoting the importance of reading aloud to children. Not only does it provide community training to parents, the foundation also partnered with community centres to offer training workshops to teachers and other childcare providers. The easiest way to get involved is to donate this Christmas and spread the joy of reading!

Bring Me A Book Hong Kong, 7/F, On Lan Centre, No. 11-15 On Lan Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2127 4533, [email protected], www.bringmeabook.org.hk

Christmas is usually about the reindeer, but that doesn’t mean we can’t stop to think about eco-footprint! Established in 2004, Green Sense is a non-profit charity that conducts research to promote environmental consciousness. The organisation tackles everything from using our air-conditioning wisely (so important with many of us spending more time at home this year!) to the impact of Hong Kong’s typical wall-like buildings and light pollution (did you know that around 20% of the city’s electricity consumption goes towards lighting?!). 

Get involved by making your Christmas donation a green one this year or go one step further and volunteer to spread the eco-conscious message in your community.

Green Sense, PO Box 80710, Cheung Sha Wan Post Office, Hong Kong, 8100 4877, [email protected], greensense.org.hk

We’re all guilty of over-indulging on delicious Christmas goodies, but food waste is a huge issue in Hong Kong. From food collection to community outreach, this food rescue and assistance programme aims to alleviate hunger in the city. Throughout the year, Food Angel welcomes volunteers to help out and prepare meals for the underprivileged. On top of that, it also welcomes food donation, so if you’ve got any extra food that fits its specification you can be a food angel too!

Food Angel, 2/F, Fung Sing Building, 235 Hai Tan Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, 2801 5333, [email protected], www.foodangel.org.hk

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2019 by Lydia Ching and updated in October 2020 by Jess Mizzi.