St James’ Settlement partners with Octopus to provide food assistance to the poor

Publish Date: 24-Aug-2021

Sponsored by Kerry Logistics, St James’ Settlement and its partner Octopus Holdings launched the Food-to-Give pilot scheme in June to distribute electronic food assistance to eligible people. The scheme allowed for more convenience and offered a wider selection of food items. It also took into account the feelings of the beneficiaries by allowing them to select their own foods in a personalized way.

Some 160 people participated in the Food-to-Give scheme that ended on 15 August. Mr Tsui Kin-sum, manager of the Food to Give scheme, said that the participants of the pilot scheme claimed their four hundred dollars weekly allowance with their octopus cards for eight consecutive weeks and they were free to purchase meals from a selected group of fast-food restaurants during the trial scheme period.

Ms Josephine Lee, chief executive officer of St James’ Settlement, said that the Food-to-Give pilot scheme used electronic payment platforms to distribute food assistance to enhance the convenience and offer a wider selection of food items. This method also takes into account the feelings of the beneficiaries. She hoped that this new method can break through the limitations of existing food assistance distribution programmes so that it could better respond to the needs of the masses and help grass-root families.