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For the younger generation, having dim sum or “yum cha” in Chinese restaurants is a nostalgic activity. For the middle-aged population, “yum cha” may be perfect for family gatherings. However, for the elderly, "yum cha" has gradually become challenging, as they can barely eat dim sum due to their aging oral muscles, weakening their ability to chew and swallow.

The Hong Kong Women Development Association (“HKWDA”) has been a long-term community partner of the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team (“CARE Team”) on women and family services since 2013. Following the Give Me Five Elderly Home Visit Programme, which has been providing temporary food assistance to the underprivileged living in the New Territories for ten years, HKWDA launched the new Soft Meal with Love Programme this year with the support of the Club. The programme aims to promote nutritious soft meals to the elderly and their caregivers by deepening their understanding of soft meals.

The programme was held at various HKWDA district centres, providing soft meal workshops for volunteers and caregivers to learn how to prepare semi-solid meals, followed by a “yum cha” session that offered a comforting yum cha experience with soft meal buns for the community elders.

From April to May 2024, the CARE Team actively engaged in five soft meal workshops and “yum cha” sessions. More than 100 elders from Tuen Mun, Sheung Shui, Tai Po, Yuen Long, and Tin Shui Wai, as well as 80 CARE volunteers joined the programme. The elderly expressed gratitude for the "dining services" provided by CARE volunteers and the experience of eating soft meal dim sum.

On 15 June 2024, the programme held its large-scale service and closing ceremony. CARE volunteers joined the event with their children, where they learnt how to make soft meal dim sum in a workshop. They then took on the role of "dim sum ambassadors” with the officiating guests of the closing ceremony, and used dim sum trolleys to serve the elderly with various dim sum delicacies, including shrimp dumplings, siu mai, and soft meal buns.

As the elders indulged in the delightful “yum cha” session, the CARE volunteers catered to the dietary needs of the elderly, introduced them to soft meal options and treated everyone to a series of stage performances by the "junior CARE volunteers" to promote intergenerational connections. The youngsters showcased their skills in violin, cello, Latin dance and recitations of Chinese poems, while the CARE Chinese Opera team later serenaded the elderly with mesmerising Chinese opera songs, creating a truly unforgettable moment for all.