Bakeries come together to donate surplus bread for elderly homes

Every evening, volunteers from several elderly care homes head off to nearby bakeries - but not for a snack. They have fallen into this routine because many bakery chain stores give them free surplus bread, which is served the next morning at breakfast for home residents. Maxim's Cakes and Arome Bakery, both members of Maxim's Group, have around 240 stores in Hong Kong, about half of which donate bread under the scheme, which began in 2009.

Around 40 non-profit groups have benefited, including three elderly care homes operated by the Helping Hand charity. The bread also goes to the homeless, low-income families, people with disabilities and others in need. Each store gives away between a few and a few dozen loaves and buns each day. Maxim's Group established its own volunteer team this year to help with collection and distribution.

This month, Maxim's volunteers paid a visit to one of the Helping Hand homes, Po Lam Jockey Club Housing for the Elderly, where they met their beneficiaries face to face, played games and handed out Christmas gifts to residents.

"I feel such warmth and satisfaction, knowing that the elderly people are not as lonely as I had imagined," said volunteer Margaret Lai Ka-man, a management trainee with Maxim's Group. "It is rewarding to learn from their positive and energetic attitude."

Helping Hand, which supports more than 800 needy elderly people in seven homes, is one of Operation Santa Claus' 18 beneficiaries this year. The holiday charity drive is jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK.