A different kind of Tuesday Night

Hong Kong ex pats’ desire to be entertained rarely goes unsatiated. The multi dimensionality of the landscape and demographics of this city provide motive for capitalists in every sector to get a slice of the pie. From yoga to Cross fit, from fine dining, to street noodles, from cocktails in fancy dress to dancing on bars, from there is something for everyone in the Pearl of the Orient. 

Unless, unfortunately, you are looking for an opportunity to give back to those who can’t afford even the cheapest of entertainment in this city.

"I wish there were something I could do to help those guys" is a shared sentiment amongst my circles when we pass a hunched elderly pushing recyclables up hills that healthy youth take taxis to avoid.  On the one hand, Hong Kong ranks number eleven in the list of cities with the most millionaires per capita.  On the other, 1 in 5 of the 7.24 million residents live in poverty.  In a city with such large economic disparity, there has to be people like us wanting to do something about the homelessness and the hunger we see around us, right?  

So we research various organizations to get ourselves involved with, but then we stop.  Because instead of a time and place to show up and serve, we get bombarded with registration forms, sign up sheets and waitlists.  It’s just too much red tape for something that should be relatively simple.

Yes, I am aware of and occasionally partake in “drinks for charity”. And yes, sometimes I go to dinner for a cause.  What I want more than throwing money at a problem is to be involved in the solution. I’d like to see that my actions have a direct, positive impact on someone else’s existence in this city.

This is how I came to heed the call from instagrammer @kulkimoose to join a purely grassroots movement, ImpactHK, in feeding the homeless.  Started by Jeff Rotmeyer of “the Guest Room”, ImpactHK meets one a month at a Park-N-Shop, buys food, and goes straight into the surrounding area of Nam Cheong to feed the homeless.

Jeff is currently a teacher and has been passionately volunteering throughout his ten years in Hong Kong. Mr. Rotmeyer is very involved with the Down Syndrome and Autistic community in Hong Kong, and along with them he has helped refugees, the homeless, people living in Hong Kong's caged homes and even raised money to help an individual pay for her cleft lip operation.  

Jeff and his friends have been feeding the homeless in monthly events for just over one year now.  It started with only a handful of people, but is now getting groups of over 40 volunteers, like at the most recent August handout.

Like so many of us, he saw the need, but didn't wait around to find another organization to help serve. He took the initiative and just did it.  

"I started writing ImpactHK to expose the concept of doing good deeds for others to more people.  I also wanted to show how easy it is to make a difference.  ImpactHK has no salaries and involves no corporate funding.  It's simply the power of considerate and compassionate people coming together to make a difference."

Currently The Guest Room and impactHK are seeing their numbers continue to rise.  Jeff and his team are considering options for their next step.

"With such impressive turnouts to the events, we are considering many options as to how we can continue to move forward.  The one thing for certain is that we will create only positive change."

There was a diverse crowd of happy people that showed up to help, with the youngest member being 7-year-old Idan Arie, son of local professor Dor Arie.  A smattering of accents and a variety of professionals all came out to give up a few hours of their time for something as simple as reaching into a bag and handing over a piece of food to someone in need.