MOW FOOD BANK – April 2013 deliveries to 15 families

We welcomed two new families to our MOW FOOD BANK program in April 2013 … Madam Thanaletchumi and the Hyams Family.

Letchumi has 3 children, aged 5, 7 and 12 yrs. Her husband abandoned the family in 2011. She has two children in school … Sachin walks to school while Gunaswari takes the public bus at RM0.50 per day.

Letchumi works as a contract sweeper with Alam Flora from 7am – 3pm, Mon-Sat, and makes about RM600 per month. Of this, RM200 goes to rental (she is renting from her brother) and another RM200 to a babysitter to look after her 5 yr old when she is at work. The balance RM200 is definitely not enough for her to feed her family of four.

The Hyams family comprise of Sylvia Hyams, 83 yrs old and a former nurse. She has two children of her own, Elizabeth and Douglas, and two adopted children Sharlene and Peter. Sharlene with Down’s syndrome and Peter with cerebral palsy, were abandoned by their parents when they were babies. Sadly, Peter passed away 4-5 yrs ago at the age of 21 yrs.

Sylvia suffered a stroke in 1999, and is very weak with a hunched back, difficulty in walking, and needs a cataract operation. Elizabeth suffered a stroke in Nov 2012, and requires physiotherapy at the hospital, 2-3 times a week. Sharlene, at 24 yrs, only consumes milo and condensed milk. Douglas is the sole breadwinner in the family. He used to do odd jobs and brings home about RM600 a month. He recently (1st May 2013) started work as a night security guard that pays RM900 per month. He cannot do a full time day job as he needed flexible work hours to bring his family members for frequent hospital visits in his used car. Sylvia gets RM300 a month from Social Welfare, while Elizabeth gets RM300+ a month from SOCSO. Douglas main concern now is the RM8000+ TNB bill he needs to settle to avoid supply disruption. He has tried appealing and getting help from several politicians but all in vain. For more on the Hyams, please click on the link below.

http://mealsonwheelspenchala.blogspot.com/2013/05/mow-food-bank-new-family-needs-your-help.html

On Sunday, the 28^th Apr 2013, the MOW delivery team … Andrew, Ivan, Chee Meng, Swee Keong and Kim loaded the groceries into two vehicles and was off to the first stop, PPR Desa Rejang by 11am.

Our FOOD BANK families were waiting when we arrive. This time there were a lot more people hanging around at the gazebo, our usual drop-off point. Apparently some families heard about our grocery delivery and they came to “register” themselves for the program. We requested they write down their names and contact numbers, and we will see what we can do to help.

 As usual, our FOOD BANK families were happy to be receiving their monthly supplies, a week before the general election.

Next stop was PPR Gombak Setia, where Puan Fazilah and Puan Zabiyah were waiting. Puan Padmini was at the church and her stuff were brought up to Puan Fazilah’s flat to be picked later.

Thankfully, we had our ‘musclemen’ to help carry the groceries up 4 floors to Puan Fazilah’s flat!

After Gombak Setia, we split up the remaining tasks … Andrew, Ivan, Chee Meng and Swee Keong to PPR Jinjang …

 … while Kim went to Mr Maran’s house in Sentul. However, the whole family was not home, and the groceries were finally delivered on Tues, 31^st Apr.

We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all our donors for April 2013 FOOD BANK program.

Yu Chee Koon

Tan Kai Ming

R.G.

Stone Empire

Joyce Ong

Celine Yong Chooi Ping

Khor Hung Jooi

Ow Yong Hoong Peen

C.S.H.

Without your support, these families and their children will likely not have enough to eat by the 3^rd or 4^th week of the month when the families’ paycheck is all used up.

Posting and pictures by Kim