Before every cold winter, the Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC) pays visit to financial deprived singleton elderly and delivers cold resistant materials to them based on their needs. This is the 16th consecutive year for HKRC to hold the Winter Aid Program for the singleton elderly and accumulative of 38,000 people are benefited. HKRC would analyze their needs for distribute of materials. It aims to enhance their capacity to resist cold weather and prevent illness caused by low temperature.

This year, HKRC launched the Program in five districts, Shatin, Yuen Long, Kowloon City, Yau Tsim Mong District and Wan Chai District. On 13 and 27 November 2011, 113 volunteers were mobilized to visit 119 singleton elderly living in Lok Man Sun Cheun and Ma Tau Kok in To Kwa Wan. Cold resistant materials, including quilts, blankets and jackets were distributed to the needy. Knowledge on winter preparedness and home safety were also disseminated so that chances of developing winter diseases were reduced and lives were protected.  Besides, cold resistant materials were also distributed to the needy by referral from various elderly centres in those districts during November 2011 to February 2012. A total of 944 financial deprived singleton elderly were benefited in the project. The Program was supported by the "Golden Jubilee Charity Foundation".