Wednesday, January 9, 2013

MOW CELEBRATE - Chinese New Year Festive Event, 3rd Feb 2013




Imagine being old, physically handicapped or mentally challenged, having no close family to turn to, at times feeling overwhelmingly lonely and spending day after day sitting around with nothing much to do and staring into nothingness.



This was my take of the 25 residents at Rumah Amal Murni when Bro Tommy, Bro Ivan and myself visited the home, late morning on Thursday, 3 Jan 2013.


 Rumah Amal Murni was established in 2005 to care for the elderly and underprivileged and managed by a committee of Persatuan Rumah Amal Murni Kajang. The home currently houses 25 residents, 11 females and 14 males, aged between 15 years to 79 years. Majority are Chinese, although the home does have 3 Indians and 1 Malay resident. The 15 year old girl and another 2 residents in their 20s and 30s have down syndrome. Several residents in their 40s are either physically or mentally handicapped.




The home relies solely on public funding. Monthly expenses can run up to RM10,000. The home only gets paid by 4 to 5 residents’ sponsors (usually some association or NGO and not family members), and the total amount is about RM1,200 – RM1,500 per month. Apart from rice, their other food supplies appear to be depleting.



The home is run by Mr Soo, the administrator, who has been there for 4 years, supported by a cook, a maid and one of the resident in his 60s who help bathe and care for some of his fellow residents. Mr Soo manages the home well as it looks clean and tidy, and the residents, although most looked bored, appear to be well taken care of physically.




 Unlike children in orphanages who goes to school for half the day and has homework or revision to attend to after school, the old folks and handicapped do not have much activities to occupy themselves. For their own safety, they live behind this fence with a locked gate.


When the TV is turned on, some of the mentally handicapped residents just stare at the TV without any comprehension of what is going on. Sadly, they just sit around in the big dining hall and wait for meal times. A day in the home passes by very, very slowly.


To show we care, MoW would like to do something special for the residents. Do come celebrate Chinese New Year with the residents in Rumah Amal Murni … show them that someone out there cares, and bring some joy and laughter into their mundane lives.

Details of event
Day/Date: Sunday, 3rd February 2013
Time: 10:30am to 1:00pm
Venue: Rumah Amal Murni, 58 & 59, Jalan Bukit, 43000 Kajang, Selangor

Program
10:30am            Gather at Ti-Ratana Penchala
10:30am            Meet and greet session with volunteers
10:45am            Depart to Rumah Amal Murni, Kajang
11:30am            Arrive and get organized at Rumah Amal Murni
11:45am            Entertainment/Games/Activities for the residents
12:00pm            Lunch
12:30pm            Presentation of wish list items
12:45pm            Group photograph
1:00pm              Event ends

Wish List
Below are the items requested by the home. We have not specified the quantity for some of the items, so we will just bring whatever that is contributed by donors.

Items
Quantity
Unit cost
Sub-Total
Donors
Instant noodles (without seasoning)



Karen Lim n Friend
Chocolate malt powder (Milo, Vico, Malta)




Canned baked beans



Celina Yong
Canned sardines



Celina Yong
Canned luncheon meat (pork or chicken)



Celina Yong
Body wash/gel/foam (not soap bars)




Antiseptic floor cleaner




Adult diapers for 5 residents (size S & M)




PVC mattress cover
25


Lee Kuan Kim (Updated 11/1/13)
Bath towels
25


Christina Hue (Updated 11/1/13)
TOTAL





Additional items donated by :

1) Karen Lim n Friend - Oats n biscuits

Cash Donation Received from :

1) Dennis Pet   - RM100.00
2) Tracy Wong  - RM200.00
3) Stone Empire Marketing Sdn Bhd - RM500.00
4) TC                - RM200.00
5) J. Calli International  - RM100.00
6) Lee Kuan Kim  - RM1,000.00
7) Sharyn Wong - RM 300.00
8)Kek Chin Woo - RM500 (Updated 11/1/13)
9)Datin Christine Lim - RM 250 (Updated 11/1/13)

For all items, you may sponsor the actual items in whatever quantities or donate cash (any amount) by banking into our account (Acc Name: Ti Ratana Community Centre Penchala CIMB Acc No: 14660000259057).

Since it is a Chinese New Year celebration, you are also welcome to donate cookies and other festive food items (except mandarin oranges which the home feels is not suitable for the residents).

All items must be delivered to Ti-Ratana Penchala Centre by 5pm, Wednesday, 30th January 2013, to give the committee sufficient time to buy any outstanding items and pack the items.

Apart from these, we are also seeking individuals or group of individuals who have experience in organizing entertainment/activities for the elderly and the physically and mentally handicapped.

If you would like to contribute to this event or need more details, please call June at 03-77849002 or email trccpenchala@gmail.com.

Volunteers/Participants
For logistic and security reasons, all volunteers who wish to participate in this event are requested to pre-register your name and contact number with us by emailing trccpenchala@gmail.com.

Please arrive at the Ti-Ratana Penchala Centre by 10:30am sharp for a briefing. We shall convoy together to Kajang thereafter. No transportation will be provided, so kindly ensure you make your own arrangements if you wish to carpool with other volunteers to get to the event venue and back to the Centre.

Lets come together and join hands to wish the residents at Rumah Amal Murni “Gong Xi Fa Cai”, dance and sing with them, tell them a funny story, light some firecrackers, or anything you can think of to inject some zest into their lives!!!


Pictures courtesy of Bro Tommy Teh

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