Recently, we received a large batch of donated supplies, including "egg waffle premix powder." We distributed these supplies to our neighbors so everyone could easily make snacks at home. We also received many photos of their finished products from our neighbors! Who knew that a simple packet of premix powder, with a simple change of cooking method, could produce golden-brown hotcakes and waffles!

Are you aware of the reason Mai Po is referred to as "Miu Po"? It turns out that rice was once grown here! The name "Miu Po" (meaning "rice paddy") comes from the large brackish water rice paddies that Mai Po once had in addition to shrimp ponds. WWF Hong Kong has recently been experimenting with rice farming once more in the Mai Po Nature Reserve, not only carrying on its tradition but also offering a varied habitat for migrating birds, even if the rice paddies are no longer visible.

The Food Commons Foundation's annual volunteer event was particularly memorable this year since WWF Hong Kong invited us to take part in the "Wetlands Tasting." We have always been interested in food conservation, so Mai Po invited us. This event gave everyone the chance to learn more about the origins of food and how wetlands support both human life and the natural world.

Have you been feeling heavy and lacking appetite lately?

That's because it's Grain in Ear (Mangzhong)! Grain in Ear is the third solar term of summer, and with this time of year, Hong Kong's humid heat is truly unbearable! The stuffy, damp weather easily leads to stomach upset and lethargy! During these rainy and humid days, remember to eat foods that dispel dampness and strengthen the spleen; you'll feel much better!

In April, Hong Kong is filled with the growing warmth and humidity of early summer. As temperatures rise, volunteers sweat more as they work the streets, but their enthusiasm for saving food remains undiminished! In April, we shared a rich and diverse range of supplies! Besides the familiar bread and hot meals, we received over two thousand items of fruit, canned goods, and packaged food. These extra acts of kindness provided more balanced choices for the community's underprivileged residents, filling each sharing session with the smiles of satisfied neighbors.

We cordially invite you to register as a volunteer. Your participation will help ensure these saved food supplies reach those in need more effectively!

To register as a volunteer, please scan the QR code or click the link:

https://www.foodcommons.hk/tc/volunteers

The wheat grains are gradually filling out, and the early signs of summer are in full bloom. Today marks the "Grain Buds" solar term, signifying that crops are beginning to plump up, but are not yet fully ripe. At this time, temperatures rise, rainfall is abundant, and humidity and heat intertwine. Health preservation should focus on "clearing heat and removing dampness, nourishing the heart and strengthening the spleen," and the diet should be light and refreshing to prepare for the height of summer.

In recent years, Hong Kong has strongly supported food waste recycling. Many people believe that sending food to O·PARK for composting and energy generation is environmentally friendly enough. However, we want to say: these fresh, nutritious ingredients, often discarded due to market mismatches, have a place in many people's lives, not just leave the elderly and those destitute to weep.

During the recent annual event (April 2025 to March 2026), the Food Commons Foundation, together with its partners Sha Tin Women's Association and the Food Commons @District Volunteer Team, successfully rescued 143,996.84 kg of still edible quality food, including fruits and vegetables, bread, packaged food, and beverages, from markets, shops, and supermarkets. Almost all (99.68%) of this food was distributed that same evening to 231,930 underprivileged elderly, low-income families, sanitation workers, scavengers, and the homeless. Since its predecessor project in 2009, we have stored more than 11.46 million kilograms of food, benefiting more than 10.23 million people.