Frequently asked questions
Who is Feeding Hong Kong?
Feeding Hong Kong is a Hong Kong registered charity established in 2011. Our mission is to reduce food waste and feed charities. Find out more about us.
What do you do?
Feeding Hong Kong collects surplus food from companies and redistributes it to local charities. We also educate the community about better managing food as a resource. Learn more about what we do.
Where do you work?
We work with food companies and charities in Kowloon, New Territories and Hong Kong Island. Our office and warehouses are located in Yau Tong.
How did you start?
Feeding Hong Kong started as a volunteer food rescue project in 2009. Our passion to redistribute fresh leftovers from bakeries to help local shelters developed into a quest to bridge the gap between companies with surplus and charities with need. In 2011, we registered as a Section 88 charity in Hong Kong and opened our first warehouse.
How do you work with other charities?
Feeding Hong Kong is a charity for other charities. We source, collect, store and redistribute surplus food to local charities. They include senior centres, crisis shelters, central kitchens, after school programmes and food banks that take our donations and either cook them into hot meals, pack them into food parcels, or share them as snacks.
Do you deliver food directly to individuals?
Feeding Hong Kong only delivers to registered charities. This allows us to divide and conquer: we focus on the logistics whilst our charity partners ensure the food gets to where it can make the biggest difference.
Do you cook food?
No. Our focus is collection, storage and redistribution. Think of us as a central clearing-house for food donations. Our charity partners such as Food Angel, Food for Good and Jubilee Ministries focus on cooking hot meals for the community. You can find out more about them and our other charity partners here.
How are you funded?
Our funding comes from corporates, foundations, community groups and individuals. We also receive pro bono products and services from corporate partners. Find out more about how you can donate or partner with us.
How big is your team?
We have 25 full-time staff and five dedicated board directors. We also have support from over 200 volunteers each week. Want to get involved? Check out our career and volunteer opportunities.
How big is your warehouse?
We have two! We have over 11,500 square feet of storage and the equipment and expertise to handle large pallet donations. Our warehouses are temperature controlled to ensure ambient food donations stay at their best. We also have a walk-in fridge and a walk-in freezer so that we can safely store chilled and frozen food by the pallet.
What kind of food companies do you work with?
We work with farms, manufacturers, distributors and retailers to redistribute surplus stock that is safe to eat but has lost its commercial value or no longer meets requirements. Reasons for donation may include short shelf life, approaching sell-by date, labeling error, discontinued brand, surplus inventory, minor recipe variation or damaged external packing.
How do you ensure food safety?
We work closely with food companies to ensure the food donated is safe and suitable for distribution. We then sort and inspect all items in our warehouse and maintain detailed inventory records of all donated products and onward deliveries. This means we have full traceability on all donations and can facilitate product recalls if and when required. Food companies can check out our Food Donor Guidelines for more information.
How can I donate my excess stock to Feeding Hong Kong?
Email us with the product details of your surplus stock. Our operations team will respond to you within 48 hours. If you would like to explore an ongoing donation partnership our team, we would be pleased to meet with you to discuss how we can help.
What food items do you accept?
We accept ambient, chilled and frozen foods, and can handle multi-pallet donations. If you are a hotel or catering company with excess cooked food we recommend you contact Foodlink, who specialise in cooked food donations. Find out more about what we accept.
Can I donate expired food?
No. We do not accept any products that have passed their expiry or use-by date. However, we do accept donations close to or past their best before date. You must provide us, in writing, with the use-by or expiry date. Please check our Food Donor Guidelines for further information.
Do you accept non-food items?
Yes. We collect and redistribute personal care items and household products. We also welcome donations of warehouse and office equipment for Feeding Hong Kong. For a full list of the products and services that we are looking for, check out our wish list.
Do you have a minimum volume food donation?
No. We accept donations large and small! To ensure the most efficient redistribution of your donation, please contact us to share more details about your donation.
Can you collect my food donation?
We will collect whenever possible. We have a fleet of four trucks and can handle multi-pallet donations and refrigerated products. However, our schedules do get booked up quickly so if you are able to deliver your donation directly to our Yau Tong warehouse, this makes a big difference.
Who will my food donation help?
All the food donated to Feeding Hong Kong goes to support local registered charities. Our charity partners include senior centres, crisis shelters, central kitchens, after school clubs and food banks. Find out more about our charity partners.
I’m not a food company but I want to donate food. How can I help?
Host a food drive and help top up our surplus donations! Rice, canned goods and cooking oil are the three foods that are most in demand. We ask for your help in delivering food drive donations directly to our warehouse. If you do not have a vehicle, we recommend using GoGo Van or Lalamove. Our team are happy to help with unloading your vehicle when it arrives at our warehouse.
How do charities benefit from joining the Feeding Hong Kong?
Over 100 charities and community partners benefit from getting free quality food from us. Our donations help them increase the quality and variety of food they provide and save money on food and logistics, which they can redirect to other services. Find out more about how your charity can receive food from Feeding Hong Kong.
How can my family apply for food from Feeding Hong Kong?
We only supply food to registered charities. If you or your family require support, we encourage you to reach out to a Feeding Hong Kong charity partner in your district. Find out more about our charity partners.
How can my charity apply for food from Feeding Hong Kong?
We provide quality food donations to a wide range of frontline organisations, including:
- Hostels and shelters providing crisis support
- Welfare centres distributing food parcels
- Community kitchens serving hot meals
- Non-profit residential homes
- Breakfast clubs and after school centres
How does our organisation qualify to join your charity network?
Your organisation should be:
- A frontline organisation such as:
- Residential homes & shelters providing crisis support.
- Welfare centres offering food assistance.
- Social enterprise kitchens serving hot meals.
- A charitable institution or trust which is exempt from tax under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance.
- Operating for a minimum of 1 year.
What are the application procedures?
- Fulfill the requirements in above question.
- Contact us through the general enquiries page on the Feeding Hong Kong website, or by phone or email.
- Wait for a Feeding Hong Kong charities team member to arrange a site visit to your organisation.
- Submit the application form.
- Wait for the approval by Feeding Hong Kong (if the partnership is confirmed).
- Sign the mutual agreement with Feeding Hong Kong.
When will I know the application result?
Within a few weeks to months after submitting the application.
What are the responsibilities of a charity partner?
- Share donations on a fair basis.
- Handle food donations safely.
- Regularly participate in our annual review.
- Provide us with photos of donation distribution (strongly encouraged).
- Co-organise activities or events with Feeding Hong Kong or Feeding Hong Kong partners (strongly encouraged).
Do we have to pay for the food?
No, all our food is on a donation basis (based on the latest agreement).
Will Feeding Hong Kong provide the delivery?
This will be subject to logistics availability, delivery location and manpower.
Can we just receive a one-off donation?
Our partnership is a long term relationship, not for one-off or particular events/festivals.
Can my beneficiary come to the Feeding Hong Kong warehouse directly and collect food from you?
No, we are a business to business food bank service; we only share food with our charity partners, we do not directly share with beneficiaries.
Can I get any staple food from Feeding Hong Kong?
Yes, we mostly share staple food, but it is subject to the surplus food donation supply levels.
Can I confirm the exact arrival time of delivery?
No. We will only provide a time window, this allows for unforeseen situations / traffic conditions.
Can Feeding Hong Kong help with unloading the donation?
No, but we can lend you a pallet jack or trolley cart.
If your charity is interested in receiving food and would like to find out more, simply email us. Our Charities Manager will be in touch.
How can I donate money to Feeding Hong Kong?
You can donate online, by cheque or ATM.
Is my donation tax deductible?
All monetary donations over HK$100 are tax deductible. All donors will receive a tax receipt via email within 14 days.
How will my donation be spent?
Your donations support the running of our warehouse, fleet and office. This allows us to feed people, not landfills, and continue providing free food sourcing, collection, storage and redistribution to our charity partners.
How can I volunteer as an individual?
We offer opportunities for individuals in our office and warehouse, as well as our weekly Bread Runs. To get started, register as a volunteer and check out our volunteer calendar.
How old do you have to be to volunteer?
There is no age restriction for the Bread Run – all are welcome! For our office and warehouse shifts, you must be at least 18 years old.
What can I do in a group?
Groups can help sort and pack food in our warehouse sessions, or work as a team to collect surplus bread in the Bread Run. Find out more about our group volunteer activities.
How do I apply for an internship?
We have internship opportunities available throughout the year. The responsibilities, criteria and commitment for each role are detailed here. All internships are unpaid. Candidates must be a Hong Kong permanent resident or hold a valid work visa.
Can I arrange a visit to Feeding Hong Kong?
We love having visitors! We encourage you to schedule a Meet and Greet session where you can get a tour of our warehouse and take part in an interactive Q&A session. Our Tuesday and Thursday night Bread Runs are another good opportunity for a tour and a chat with our team.
How can I receive news about Feeding Hong Kong?
Join the community and get involved with Feeding Hong Kong!
From food drives to volunteering opportunities, we would love to get you involved in the right way.
Learn
Explore
Act
© 2022 Feeding Hong Kong Limited. All rights reserved | Privacy policy | Hong Kong registered charity IR No: 91/11636
Affiliated with
