Each time I dine out with Chinese friends, I'm appalled at the amount of food that is wasted. The only conclusion I can reach is that either they've been starving for ages or hibernating for decades, from the winter-means-cabbages-only era.

In this apparent age of plenty, no one seems to want to miss out and the orders seem to be as long as the menus are thick.

There is plenty of psycho-babble to explain this irrationality such as making up for times of a litre of cooking oil a month for a whole family (before the one-child norm) or a proud father who could afford only an egg to show his wife appreciation for their newborn.

My parents grew up with food rationing during World War II and drilled into us the virtues of cleaning up the plate never mind what was on it.

Think of all those poor kids who have nothing to eat, was the constant refrain; and it was many a time I wished they could take all my gooey okra or aubergine (we were a vegetarian household and all I wanted was potato).

Now, I look at all the waste and think about those in want.

Here are some numbers to ponder: 72.5 million people in China will need food aid this winter, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. And more than 21 million require warm clothing.

The good news is that an increasing number of residents in China are opening their wallets to charity.

But it is not always easy to do, and not because people are parsimonious. Most of the time, you simply don't know how to.

So here are my suggestions on how some whimsical, some practical to get people parting with the money they want to:

Supermarkets: The one in my neighbourhood doesn't round off the tab to the nearest yuan and I (is it only me?) always end up with reams of jiao notes. I have a boxful at home and would gladly give them to charity if someone made it easy.

Mind you, there is a glass box belonging to some charity after the checkout counter to put those notes in but when you are saddled with four shopping bags and get your change and receipt and someone is nudging you from behind you cram them in your wallet and get out. Goodbye, charity.

Now, if the supermarket were to link up with a recognized charity, all the teller has to ask is: Do you want to donate your small change? I'd say yes, always.

Restaurants: When I first came to Beijing, I was surprised that waiters didn't expect and many didn't want tips. The bill, of course, is rounded off to the nearest yuan, but that still leaves plenty of small-denomination notes after you've paid. Well-positioned donation boxes would surely do the trick.

Offices: Singapore, for instance, has a system under which members of the major ethnic groups contribute a small sum every month to their respective self-help groups through their pension funds. In China, it might be difficult to have a similar exercise on a national level, but can't employers pick a suitable charity and ask employees if they would be willing to donate an agreed amount to be deducted from pay every month?

SMS: That ubiquitous communication tool can be employed to good effect, a tech-savvy colleague told me as I was trying to find ways to make you part with your money - for a good cause, of course. You just send a message to a registered charity and the money would automatically be deducted from, or charged to, your phone card.

Telethons: Overseas, these star-studded TV variety shows entertain, and at the same time, raise money for various causes. China has one of the world's most watched television shows the annual countdown to the Lunar New Year which could be a gold mine for the poor.

And if you feel that feel-good feeling of helping others, just listen to Confucius: He who wishes to secure the good of others has already secured his own.

Email: ravi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 12/16/2005 page4)