Young men and young women of Hong Kong's four stakes teamed up with their parents and youth leaders to provide a helping hand as well as a listening ear to scores of elderly residents of the greater Hong Kong area Aug. 28-29. The project was seen as a highlight for the youth in the Hong Kong China Kowloon, Hong Kong China, Hong Kong China New Territories and Hong Kong China Tolo Harbour stakes, according to Elder Sam Wong, Area Seventy.
It was co-sponsored by the Hong Kong Family Welfare Association.
The project consisted of assembling several hundred gift packages for distribution to the elderly single residents of the city, and then visiting the homes of those individuals and carrying out a thorough and detailed cleaning of their apartments. In addition, the young people and their parents sat and talked with the residents who live alone and typically have few, if any, visitors.
More than 300 youth, parents and leaders met at the Asia Area headquarters of the Church on Hong Kong Island on Friday evening and were given instruction on techniques of cleaning as well as tips on how to interact with single elderly people. Parents were invited to attend the training with their youth since they would be the ones accompanying them on the visits to the homes and providing guidance and assistance.
After this instruction, the youth were issued the well-recognized yellow "Helping Hands" vests and assembled the gift packs that would be distributed to those visited.
Elder Wong, as well as President Chung Lap Choi, first counselor in the Hong Kong Tolo Harbour Stake presidency and chairman of the activity's multi-stake planning committee, also spoke to the youth and encouraged them in their efforts to serve the Hong Kong community. In addition, representatives of the Hong Kong Family Welfare Association spoke to the assembled group and expressed appreciation to them for their willingness to serve.
The following morning, the youth and their parents spread out across the large metropolitan area that comprises Hong Kong, including Kowloon and the New Territories and even some of the outlying islands and remote areas. They found in home after home not only the opportunity to both provide the cleaning service but also to spend time listening to and sharing in conversation with the single elderly people.
The youth gained first-hand knowledge of how important it is to serve one-on-one and to give of their time and attention to someone whom they had never met but who appreciates their service. In fact, some of the elderly even declined the cleaning service but very much appreciated the chance to have some time with a visitor with whom they could talk and share their feelings and thoughts. The youth then departed, leaving the gift package and in many cases a much happier senior citizen.
The project benefited the elderly who were visited and served, and the youth and their parents who had the opportunity to spend a day together serving with one another and reaching out to those in need, building testimonies and family togetherness.
