Dear gentle listener,

Once upon a time there was a fragrant land called Hong Kong that loved to celebrate the Mid- Autumn Festival.

At this magical time, families came together, bustling shops overflowed with delights, and the aroma of delicious foods filled the air - it looked like a city where no-one could possibly ever want for more. And mooncakes — round, wondrous pastries of delight —were the stars of the show!

One Mid-Autumn eve, two fair brothers named Liam and Noel arrived on Hong Kong shores. They had travelled from a land far, far away and with wide eyes and empty stomachs, they were eager to embrace the festivities.

Lanterns in hand, they headed to a street lined with bakeries.  “Look, Liam!” Noel exclaimed, pointing at a particularly fine display of Mid-Autumn treats. “This shop has mini mooncakes, ice cream mooncakes… they even have truffle mooncakes!”

As they stood by the shop window in awe of the array, the brothers noticed a truck pull up. It was smart looking, sharp looking and emblazoned with the Feeding Hong Kong logo. Curious, they watched as the driver, a cheerful chap called Shing, went into the shop, and shortly after emerged with a trolley full of mooncakes.

“Excuse me!” Liam called out. “Why do you have so many mooncakes?”

Shing stopped and smiled. “These are just some of the boxes that haven’t been sold and this shop is kindly donating them to Feeding Hong Kong so they don’t go to waste. We’ve collected 25,000 mooncakes so far this year!” He paused, “Would you guys like to find out more?”

Intrigued, the brothers nodded and so Shing invited them to visit the Feeding Hong Kong warehouse in Yau Tong.

Ever the adventurers, they decided to jump on the Sai Wan Ho ferry and have a quick peek around Lei Yue Mun before heading into a big, bustling Yau Tong industrial building at the door of Feeding Hong Kong .

As they walked through XXXXX, their eyes opened wide in amazement. Before them was a mountain of mooncakes - box after box, pallet after pallet, neatly stacked and lined up ready to be delivered to charities across the city.

But there were not just mooncakes. They also spied cases of cans, bags of rice, boxes packed full of juice and trolleys stacked high with… sweet potatoes! 

“Wow!” Noel exclaimed. “Do you think all this food would have otherwise gone to waste?”

Just then, a wise man named Edmond approached them. “Welcome, young travellers! Would you like to hear a tale of treasure not trash?”

Liam and Noel nodded eagerly, so Edmond began. “Mooncakes are a special symbol of sharing and celebration, but each year, over three million mooncakes end up uneaten in landfills.”

The brothers leant in to learn more, as Edmond continued, “Here at Feeding Hong Kong, we believe that no good food should go to waste. So, each Mid-Autumn, we partner with shops, bakeries and hotels to rescue these mooncakes and ensure they reach those in need. It’s all about saving food, and helping the community.”

At that point a tall, graceful lady called Connie glided by and picked up the tale. 

“Mooncakes matter but they are just part of our story. Every single day in Hong Kong, we work with food companies across the city to save good food, that might otherwise be wasted. Food that is still safe and nutritious, and can go to feed people, not landfills”.  

Liam and Noel exchanged a glance. “What can we do to help reduce food waste?” they asked.

Edmond smiled. “You can start by being mindful. Next time you go grocery shopping, bring a list! That way, you can make sure you only buy what you need. And when you cook, be creative! Leftover veggies? Turn them into a delicious soup. Too much fresh bread? Pop it in the freezer for another day!”

The brothers nodded, picturing themselves whipping up culinary wonders back in their homeland of Mancunia and making much better use of their freezer.

“And when you dine out,” Connie added, “be a hero. Order wisely, share with friends, and don’t hesitate to take your leftovers home! Every bite saved is a treasure not wasted.”

As they absorbed this wisdom, Noel felt a spark of inspiration. “This is amazing! By making such small changes, we can really make a difference!”

“Indeed!” Edmond said, his eyes twinkling. “Remember, little by little, we can build a brighter future.”

Liam turned to Noel, grinning. “That’s a nice phrase, Noel. You should write it down.”

And so, with the moon shining bright, the brothers left Feeding Hong Kong, inspired to share their newfound wisdom with the world, one bite at a time.

Now gentle listener, what will you do?

Now gentle listener, what will you do?

Whilst you give it some thought, here’s “Little by Little” by Oasis, a reminder that with every small step, we can create a brighter, more delicious world.