This is the story of a city’s kindness to the most vulnerable in our community.

In 2020, a social media post shared our urgent need for diapers. We were hopeful and placed plastic bins outside Child Care Home. The next day, the diapers started to arrive, and kept coming and coming! Our phones, social media and emails erupted. We heard stories of families, children, neighbourhoods, offices, schools and churches holding diaper drives!

We were overwhelmed with gratitude. It was like a sea of kindness. Our hearts were overflowing, as were our offices!  Volunteers from all corners of Hong Kong came to help sort, pack, move and store!

THANKS TO YOU WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!

But did you know that diapers have expiry dates? With more than we needed in that moment and diapers expiring, we were also able to share with other children in need.

That’s why this Thanksgiving, we are so grateful, as we have seen how ordinary people through one simple act of kindness and courage can change a child’s life story.

At Mother’s Choice, we believe that everyone has a role to play and everyone can make a difference. Though 2022 has been so challenging for us, we have HOPE.

Because YOU believe in our vision – EVERY CHILD IN A LOVING FAMILY!

Thank YOU for being a special part of the Mother’s Choice family, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

NAME: Laura Parkes

TITLE: Volunteer

We are inspired by our incredible group of professional volunteers who never cease to show us what generosity looks like in action. Laura Parkes, Mother’s Choice volunteer, shares how she leveraged her professional skills having worked in human resources at a multi-national organization in order to help Mother’s Choice builds capacity.

(1) How did you first hear about Mother’s Choice?

I first heard about Mother’s Choice from a friend who had adopted with help from Mother’s Choice.

(2) What made you decide to volunteer with Mother’s Choice?

It took me around a year to take the plunge and initially apply to volunteer in Child Care Home. For some reason I worried that between work and my social life, I wouldn’t be able to commit, but as soon as I started volunteering this fear disappeared. From the first time I spent an afternoon at Mothers Choice, I knew this would be one of the most meaningful ways I could spend my free time. From there, playing with and caring for the small children in the childcare home very naturally became one of my priorities. A few years later, when I became pregnant, I could no longer volunteer in the same capacity, and at that point, I offered my professional skills. A new journey started: one of volunteering in Human Resources. Over the past couple of years, I have been able to provide coaching to employees and support projects related to the recruitment, training, and development of employees and volunteers.

(3) What was your most memorable experience?

I actually met my (now) husband one evening after volunteering. I had received a call from Mothers Choice last minute to see if I could help as they were low on volunteers and several children were feeling unwell. I dashed over after work and spent the evening caring for a dear little boy who was under the weather and nursing him to sleep. After my shift, I was makeup-less and disheveled but decided to stop at a local restaurant for a bite to eat alone. There I got talking to a man who was also dining alone about the work I’d been doing at Mothers Choice…. and just two years later we were married and expecting a baby of our own.

(4) What impressed you most at Mother’s Choice?

What impressed me most is that Mother’s Choice continually strives to do more to positively impact the lives of pregnant teenagers and children without homes in Hong Kong. Over the years I have met so many wonderful employees and volunteers from all walks of life and who bring a diverse mix of skills. They have each been able to contribute somehow to change the life story of a teenage girl or a child in Hong Kong.

(5) What is your hope for Mother’s Choice?

I hope that Mother’s Choice continues their amazing partnership and collaboration across the community in Hong Kong — be that across the welfare sector, with corporations, or with individuals to see every child in a safe, loving, and permanent family.

NAME: Priscilla Wong

TITLE: IT Volunteer

(1) How did you first hear about Mother’s Choice?

It started with a birthday party and TwoPresents introduced us to Mother’s Choice. Our fondest memory of Mother’s Choice was the amazing annual Family Walkathon event that truly opened our eyes to the work of Mother’s Choice. My children enjoyed the fun event, and there were touching moments meeting with real families that would otherwise be not complete without Mother’s Choice.

(2) What made you decide to volunteer with Mother’s Choice?

I am a veteran of technology and telecommunication business for the last 20+ years. I’m currently an IT volunteer coordinating users’ requirements and adoption for the Salesforce upgrade project. I heard about the opportunity to volunteer with MC through a friend who has been volunteering in Mother’s Choice Fundraising team.

(3) What impressed most at Mother’s Choice?

I’m very impressed with the judicious use of technology, process automation to drive accountability, governance and organisation goals. This is evidential in all aspects within Mother’s Choice from campaigning, donors relationship, beneficiaries follow up to internal/external staff management.

(4) Why do you believe is it important for non-profit organizations to invest in IT?

I see IT-enabled efficiency resulting in more children getting the right support at the right time. As a donor/volunteer, accountability and governance are assurances that the NGO is channeling every fund into the right purpose, lot other NGOs spent too much on admin wastage instead of helping those in needs. A challenge for Mother’s Choice while keeping the admin cost low, massive data is generated from multi-channel donors interactions and regulatory requirements. IT ensures privacy and quick auditability of these data. Similarly from the beneficiaries perspective, it renders transparency to processes and continuity of individual cases.

(5) Would you recommend other professionals to donate their time and expertise to Mother’s Choice?

Most certainly, a way of maintaining our sense of purpose in the corporate world, especially in a large organisation. Beyond cost-saving, it is an avenue for Mother’s Choice team to learn the latest technology, innovation and best practices.

(Click photos to read the full version of Volunteer Journal)