Hong Kong, China - The UN Global Day of Parents was the occasion to share gifts and expressions of love to families and elderly people in Hong Kong on June 16, 2013.
The kick-off ceremony the Lord Grace Center for the Elderly included music from Chinese opera and Japanese music as well as a speech describing the heart of the heavenly parent and the goal of promoting a culture of peace. Gift packages were distributed to the elderly people. The co-organizer of the project, the Lord Grace Center, is a charitable organization that cares for more than 30 elderly people and is subsidized by the Hong Kong SAR government.
Then UPF volunteers went to large apartments buildings that are subdivided into many very small units on each floor to distribute the gift packs in honor of the Global Day of Parents. The co-sponsors of the project, HSBC Group and the Agency for Volunteer Service, provided the gift packages, which contained two kilos of rice, two packs of dried fruits, a towel, and a pair of socks.
"I was so inspired to see my eight-year-old son giving gift bags to the elderly people and the people living in the tiny partitioned units," said Eve, who accompanied her son. In the the hot, humid weather, they walked up six or seven floors with heavy bags to knock on doors and call out a greeting, "Happy Day of Parents."
"It is a very extraordinary and essential learning experience for children who are blessed with material support," she added. "As a mother, it was a special experience to see the true character of a son doing good deeds. I treasure more what I have after witnessing the life of other people. We need to give more love to the community."