We discussed what should go into the goodie bags for our old folks this Chinese New Year. As much as we wanted to pamper them with bird's nest and abalone, we realized that these 年货 wouldn't satisfy their needs. It'd make them smile and make us happy, but it wouldn't achieve the desired impact.
At the end of the day, we narrowed it down to these items:
1) a 10kg sack of rice. 2) 6 small bottles of chicken essence
3) 1 kampung chicken 4) 2 packs of fresh chye sim
5) 1 packet of dried mushrooms 6) 5 S$10 NTUC vouchers
7) 1 big ticket item at each volunteer's choice/budget.
We figured that these would be practical. These don't mean anything to me. It might not be anything to you either. But a goodie bag containing these items means alot to our intended recipients.
No.7 would be decided by the volunteers responsible for their roster. The individual volunteers are in the best position to know what the old folks need. It could be a month's supply of medicine, walking stick, radio or even a television. Whatever the volunteers see fit.
Being Chinese New Year, these would be accompanied by an ang pow. We would also need to sit down with them to go through the Budget measures that are relevant.
I find no joy and significance in celebrating Chinese New Year. It's a festival that carries no meaning for me. But I find peace in doing something concrete to fill up the days during this period. If our actions could bring some cheer and tangible benefits to the old folks within our sphere of influence, that would be something positive within a festival (though rich in cultural roots and history) which I find shallow in practice.
At the end of the day, we narrowed it down to these items:
1) a 10kg sack of rice. 2) 6 small bottles of chicken essence
3) 1 kampung chicken 4) 2 packs of fresh chye sim
5) 1 packet of dried mushrooms 6) 5 S$10 NTUC vouchers
7) 1 big ticket item at each volunteer's choice/budget.
We figured that these would be practical. These don't mean anything to me. It might not be anything to you either. But a goodie bag containing these items means alot to our intended recipients.
No.7 would be decided by the volunteers responsible for their roster. The individual volunteers are in the best position to know what the old folks need. It could be a month's supply of medicine, walking stick, radio or even a television. Whatever the volunteers see fit.
Being Chinese New Year, these would be accompanied by an ang pow. We would also need to sit down with them to go through the Budget measures that are relevant.
I find no joy and significance in celebrating Chinese New Year. It's a festival that carries no meaning for me. But I find peace in doing something concrete to fill up the days during this period. If our actions could bring some cheer and tangible benefits to the old folks within our sphere of influence, that would be something positive within a festival (though rich in cultural roots and history) which I find shallow in practice.
11 comments:
That's very nice of you to do this - seriously, practical every day stuff would be most appreciated as you said.
I think the ntuc vouchers will come in very handy!
Can your organisation adopt my organisation? Mine is a VWO. :P
My company also held a charity fundraising activity last week. But I was on leave tat day, so cant join. :(
i remember past CNYs when we were in sg and when my FIL were still around, we'd be busy fetching him around to give out these goodies bagstoo. we'd also help him source for sponsors for more goodies for the old folks. i remember the very last time we did this, my friend, who was in food trading business, sponsored cooking oil and biscuits, which made the recipients very happy and grateful even though it was something so simple.
D
dawn: it's nothing really. i do this every year. and small things every week. :) i hope it tides them over a little. it's the admin part that we dread.
lms: i hope so! we even had a debate over that! we wonder if we should just add on to the cash. coz i'm not sure how many of them actually shop at ntuc. they do it at the provision shops mostly...
iceaster: we can explore tie-ups! but we're not an organization. it's just a bunch of volunteers. specifically for the elderly though. and we prefer to follow through with them through the years so they know us and will open up. we're a very small outfit really.
celcilia: sad to say, i'm not involved in any of the company's fundraising efforts. this is just something we want to do privately. i'm sure you can chip in anytime after or before the fundraiser! there wouldn't be an expiry pegged!
dee: ya! sourcing for sponsors is like difficult we thought. but it isn't too difficult. people are still generous.
this is really very sweet of u , it is something simple that makes others day! =p
This is a great thing you're doing, and I thank you. I feel that the aged (and aged sick) is always the most neglected part of society (together with animals and the terminally ill); the gahmen is always talking about children, children, children. Is there any way I can contribute?
elaine: something simple always works!
eveline: that's very sweet of you. not this round though. we've gathered enough for the block! we can't quite expand our efforts just yet. next round, i'll shamelessly ask if you want to sponsor 5 - 10 tubs of sunflower cooking oil. as in even to buy the tubs. i try not to accept cash unless you really trust me! coz we're just doing this on our own and not garnering for cash frm public or something. just the known associates. :)
the elderly and the terminally ill are what i want to work with. i'm not interested in the other sectors though. not comfortable. that's why this is my preferred area of work.
haha.. it's so interesting to read all these different perspectives on CNY thoughts. I say, even if CNY brings little meaning to you, you bring plenty of meaning to CNY. Isn't that something?
jomel: food for thought certainly.
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