September 2, 2013 – ChickenSoup @ Chai Wan

As a friend of the Associates and the President of Grace Vineyard, Ms. Judy Chan was instrumental in founding ChickenSoup.  In a causal conversation over our usual Friday wine afternoon, Judy mentioned her two daughters rarely finish their meals and it would be a great idea for them to help out in a soup kitchen.

The Associates proposed to identify a soup kitchen for Judy to fund and her daughters to get involved.  Our research effort started with volunteering in several soup kitchens.  Little that we know: 1) about half of those lined up didn’t really need the meal; 2) those in need but didn’t show up because they are either too old or too proud; and 3) children, being our targeted beneficiaries, could not visit soup kitchens given their priority in school work.

Our research focus shifted to after-school care service centers, which provide both tutorial services and nutritious meals.  After dozens of cold calls, we identified the Baptist Church in Chai Wan being a worthwhile “investment.”  Chai Wan is the most densely populated low-income housing on the Island, while Baptist Church lost a government subsidy due to a change in policy this year.

The Associates completed our due diligence on Baptist Church, which was satisfactory to Judy.  In conjunction with a financial sponsorship by Judy, The Associates introduced Foodlink Foundation, which sources excess cooked food from hotels and restaurants, to the partnership.

The inaugural program, named ChickenSoup, provided comprehensive after-school care services, which include tutorial services and nutritious meals, for 60 underprivileged students since September 2013.

We hope that ChickenSoup can provide children of underprivileged families a more level playing field, hopefully an immediate opportunity for the families to break out of the poverty cycle.  Meanwhile, the parents can focus on their relationship and jobs to provide a stronger foundation for the family.

Grace Vinyard: https://www.facebook.com/shanxigrace

Chaiwan Baptist Church Social Service: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chai-Wan-Baptist-Church-Social-Service/184935421537397

Foodlink Foundation: http://goo.gl/R3Ntkv