Tag: volunteering

Volunteering at Willing Hearts

Chinese New Year day 3 and Volunteering at Willing Hearts. It was an extra day off for us and our family decided to do something meaningful.

There are plenty of activities at Willing Hearts, mainly ingredients preparation, food packing, cooking or cleaning.

We rotated vegetable sorting and cutting, cabbage peeling and potatoes peeling. It was a meaningful family activity for us.

Volunteers shifts are generally half day or full day. But we can tell you that 4 hours of vegetables sorting can be quite tiring haha. Besides, kids will get restless after 10 mins at the same station.

I did highlight that cabbage peeling can be therapeutic after the 4th basket. Just peel, no need to think :p

Volunteering at Willing Hearts
Volunteering at Willing Hearts

For first timers, please ask around and find a station to help. There might not be any supervisor to tell you what to do. After a while, new joiners will be asking you whether anyone need help 🙂

Kids are not allowed to use knives. We noticed that regulars would be sorting or cooking the meals in the kitchen.

Water and refreshment is available. Kids can also help to sweep the floor.

Volunteering is a good family bonding activity. While doing good, kids learn about empathy and giving back to society.

Some of our volunteering experiences are listed below.

– Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift
– Touch Meals On wheels (MOW) (Meals delivery)
– Comchest Fudai 福袋 (Goodies delivery)
– Willing Hearts (Kitchen help)
– Acres (Age 14+, our kids are animal lovers)

Do take note there is only one entrance along Jln Ubi (GPS 1.317522, 103.900424 ). Volunteers who drive are supposed to park outside the compound.

Hearty Nasi Briyani after hard work.

You would need to reserve a slot before you head down. Willing Hearts do not entertain walkin due to the huge number of participants.

More details about volunteering at Willing Hearts  can be found on their website and Facebook.

ps.. Although Willing Hearts is started by Christians initiative, everyone is welcome

 

Meals on Wheels Touch Community Services

Meals on wheels, we did something special on Chinese New Year Eve 年除夕. I mobilised three chaps to help deliver meals to the elderly.

Meals on Wheels is organised by Touch Community, more details here.

Everyone is busy with work and home-cleaning, but old folks still need to have their meals.

It was a hot day. We got 16 meals to deliver before we head home for our own reunion dinner 团圆饭. Told the kids that not everyone has a family to celebrate Chinese New Year together.

I hope they get the hint that FAMILY matters.

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Tasks for kid.

They got to navigate the lifts and stairways to find the correct unit. Some blocks are U-shape and there might be up to four lifts for you to explore :p

Some help me to key in the next postal code or help me plan the “route”.
Some help me to arrange the meals in order.

Family effort 🙂

Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels

They took up the challenge, perhaps they found the experience similar to a treasure hunt? Be it sense of achievement or feel-good, I am super proud of the kids’ involvement in charity.

Along the way, we got to enjoy scenic vantage points. Example high rise city view from Bendemeer or the unique “slopes” skyline of Potong Pasir.

There are so many symmetries in our urban landscapes.    

Delivery done, we are ready to head home.
Fortunately, the rain managed to hold.

Meals on Wheels Tips:

-Enquiry at 68046565 or email homecare@touch.org.sg
– Meals on Wheels website

We were delivering from Touch HQ at Toa Payoh Lorong 1 Block 173.
(delivered 16 packs to 14 homes in Bendemeer and Potong Pasir)

-Volunteers are delivering two meals per day, every day. Choose lunch or dinner delivery, each session will be 2 to 3 hours

-You can form your own group (friends or corporate), designate one driver and the rest “runners”

-Take note volunteers will absorb petrol, ERP, carpark fees etc

Two main activities for volunteers:
– packing
– delivery

-The most challenging portion is the packing. We need to ensure we pack the correct meals (example halal, non-halal ). Nobody wants to deliver the wrong meals and delay someone’s dinner

-Every group will be given a delivery list. Just GPS to the units and deliver
-If in doubt, ask. There is a mobile “hotline” if volunteers needs assistance

 

ps.. Families might be keen to contribute more to charity with kids. I have list some of our (old and new) volunteering experiences below.

– Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift
– Touch Meals On wheels (MOW) (Meals delivery)
– Comchest Fudai 福袋 (Goodies delivery)
– Willing Hearts (Kitchen help)
– Acres (Age 14+, our kids are animal lovers)