Christmas Glass Giving Town Opens to Celebrate the Spirit of Giving
HONG KONG, Nov. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This Christmas, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Church) will launch the first "Light the World" Giving Machines charity initiative in Hong Kong. The Giving Machines, resembling self-service vending machines, raise funds for local charitable organisations. With the holiday season bringing people together, the Church hopes that while citizens shop for gifts for loved ones, they will also remember those in need and perform acts of compassion. This aims to foster empathy and Christ-like love, spreading the light of Jesus Christ to touch hearts. Click here to learn more.
The "Light the World" Giving Machines will be launched alongside the Christmas Glass Giving Town, offering the public a chance to engage in the spirit of giving. This year's initiative brings together five charitable organisations in Hong Kong: Pok Oi Hospital, Foodlink, the Hong Kong Council of Early Childhood Education and Services, House of Learning, and Love 21. By collaborating with a diverse range of charities, the Church aims to create a greater community impact. Through the Giving Machines, people can "purchase" pre-selected items from these organisations—such as meals, educational materials, skill-training resources, essential supplies, and medical products—to support those in need. The 48-day campaign will be held from November 15, 2024, to January 1, 2025, at New Town Plaza, Phase 1, Sha Tin, in the open area between shops 107 and 110, with daily operating hours from 10 AM to 10 PM.
The Ribbon-Cutting and Giving Machine Unveiling Ceremony Concludes Successfully
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, one of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, joined representatives from the five participating charitable organisations in delivering remarks at the opening ceremony, offering blessings for the success of the charity initiative. After their remarks, the guests collectively unveiled the Giving Machines, marking the official launch of the "Light the World" Giving Machines.
"Light the World" Promotes Global Acts of Kindness
Since 2017, the Church has annually launched the "Light the World" Giving Machines charity initiative during the Christmas season worldwide. To date, more than 2 million people have donated through these Giving Machines, raising a total of over 32 million USD (approximately 250 million HKD). Just in 2023, over 250 charitable organisations were beneficiaries, and the initiative will be rolled out in 106 cities across 13 countries this year. The fundraising effort not only supports charitable organisations in launching more assistance programs to help those in need but also aims to foster social harmony and a culture of compassion.
The Church covers all costs related to production, promotion, operations, and credit card processing for the initiative, ensuring that charitable organisations receive the full amount of public donations without incurring any expenses. Through the Giving Machines, the public can select which organisations and items to support. Participating charities may allocate up to 10% of donations for internal operational expenses. Additionally, the Church requires these organisations to submit a usage report to ensure funds are allocated appropriately.
"Light the World" Giving Machines
Dates: November 15, 2024 to January 1, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Location: New Town Plaza, Phase 1, Sha Tin (Open space between shops 107 and 110)
For high resolution photos, please download here.
About The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a Christian organisation with over 17 million members worldwide. Established in Hong Kong in 1949, the Church currently has approximately 25,000 members locally. Members follow Jesus Christ, champion family values, and are committed to serving their fellowmen. To learn more about the Church, please visit its Facebook page.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Hong Kong's First "Light the World" Giving Machines Launch
SHANGHAI, Nov. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, the Konjac Shuang snack from famous Chinese mainland snack brand Weilong came into controversy for its "excessive sodium content" and "unknown ingredients", but also jokingly referred to as a "kidney toxin". Once exposed, the news took off in Hong Kong and Taiwan under the spotlight of public opinion, with experts and netizens sharing how they thought Konjac Shuang could lead to health hazards. In this context, Weilong has clarified misconceptions for the public with scientific evidence.
Doing Konjac Shaung justice
Konjac Shuang is a popular spicy snack made from the konjac root, or konnyaku. This main ingredient is a healthy source of dietary fibers while being extremely low in calories for guilt-free snacking, thanks to its unique taste and low calorie content, successfully winning over the market.
In the age of maximum wellness and health-conscious eating, konjac has gained popularity as a low-calorie ingredient that helps people feel full, making it a star ingredient in the healthy snacks market. Whether made into jellies, rice, noodles or cookies – or enjoyed as Konjac Shuang – this versatile ingredient has become a snacking staple.
But does konjac retain its health benefits when processed into a snack? The main component of konjac is glucomannan (KGM), contained in the root's bulb. Southwest University research shows that glucomannan has a variety of unique physicochemical properties such as being water-soluble, water-thickening, stable, making it a low-calorie, low-protein, high dietary fiber natural food that is an ideal additive.
Correcting the perception of sodium in snacks
Despite the vast amount of available research, the online debate around the konjac snack stems from a myth about it being toxic to kidneys because of sodium levels.
However, sodium is an essential mineral for the human body, helping maintain fluid balance and pH levels, and playing a crucial role in nerve transmission and muscle contraction. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that healthy adults should not consume more than 2,000 mg of sodium per day.
Nutritional information shows that one of the most popular packages of Konjac Shuang, made by snack company Weilong, contains 227 mg of sodium, which is within the recommended daily intake, not warranting consumer concerns. The claim that Konjac Shuang is a "kidney toxin" lacks scientific evidence and is a bit of an exaggeration.
The sodium content of various brands of snacks in the market varies significantly based on different audience groups and diversified flavor preferences. So what do consumers need to watch out for? When choosing snacks, take a comprehensive approach to evaluating the nutritional composition, rather than focusing on a single element. Because a balanced diet is what's most essential for overall health.
Konjac's broad influence – a favorite in the Japanese market
Throughout the international market, konjac maintains a special place on the international stage. Currently, Japan leads the research on konjac product development. It's home to a mature industry with a diverse array of konjac-based foods, from grilled, boiled and fried options to even sukiyaki and sashimi.
Moreover, Japan has designated May 29th as "Konjac Day". The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare stipulates that konjac products is recommended in school meals for elementary and junior high school students. In Gunma Prefecture, the local government has even built a konjac theme park where visitors can purchase innovative konjac products and visit konjac factories to personally experience the production process. This fun attraction reflects Japan's deep-rooted appreciation for konjac.
A seemingly magical ingredient with great versatility, konjac has significant potential to become a leading player in the current wave of health-conscious eating. Its full potential is still being explored, offering a wealth of possibilities for new healthy, tasty offerings.
As the Konjac Shuang pioneer, Weilong was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange at the end of 2022 and has long maintained a leading position in China's spicy snack industry. To provide consumers with quality products, Weilong has invested heavily in R&D. In its two R&D centers, it has gathered globally-leading R&D resources, contributed to creating 10 industry standards, and holds more than 100 patents. Looking ahead, as the prominent player of the spicy snack industry, we can expect to see more from Weilong.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Konjac Shuang Nutritional Value Examined from the Scientific Perspective
