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| Gabriela Chater Road was this year's top fundraiser for 'Coins for Bethune' project |
The annual “Coins for Bethune” project has raised a total of $41,609.10 for this year, according to officers of the shelter home.
The donation has helped provide much-needed funds to
Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, which provides shelter, food, legal
assistance and psychological counselling to distressed migrant women in Hong
Kong.
Last month, Bethune House which relies solely on
private donors to sustain its advocacies, issued an urgent appeal for help,
saying two big donations had fallen through, leaving it in danger of closing down
if it fails to raise $1million by the end of the year.
Various groups, mostly made up of Filipino migrant
workers, immediately rushed to the rescue, organizing charity walks, sport
tournaments and other fund-raising activities for the shelter, and holding them
on their only rest days during the week.
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| Sai Kung OFWs was among those who organized a charity walk for Bethune House |
A private group also stepped up, holding a charity concert for Bethune House recently, featuring prominent musician Wong Hing Yan. The “Raise the Roof –SOS Music Show for Bethune House” was the second mutual aid support initiated by GwoBean.
The good news is, according to Bethune House’s
executive director Edwina Antonio, their SOS (Save Our Shelter) campaign has
already reached 57% of its target amount within just a month of issuing the
call.
“Bit by bit, we’re reaching our goal. Our efforts
are paying off, “ said Antonio in a statement. But she said a little bit of
push is still needed, as “jobless and homeless migrants are counting on us."
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| Antonio (in white) receives a coin-filled container from a private donor |
In this year’s Coins for Bethune campaign, awarded as the top fundraiser among organizations was Gabriela Chater Road, next was Tropang Angat Hong Kong, and third was Utol Legend-Sai Kung.
For the alliances, the top donor was Cordillera
Alliance, and next was Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society.
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines was
the top church contributor, followed by Kowloon Union Church.
