On the Sunday morning of 23 January, the Geylang West Community Centre is bustling with activity. The last boxes unpacked, the goodie bags lined up, and volunteers receive their final instructions before the eager seniors shuffled into the hall. Some of them supported on their walking sticks, some are in their wheelchairs accompanied by a caregiver, while some drove in with “style” in their personal mobility devices.
To usher in the festive spirit of Chinese New Year, the needy seniors in Upper Boon Keng area will receive an auspicious red packet and goodie bags from the Member of Parliament of Jalan Besar – Minister Josephine Teo.
One senior who was too shy to give her name said she liked all the items, but the Ensure Life milk powder is particularly useful as she needs it for nutrition, but she could not afford to buy it. Many of the seniors were all smiles and nodded in appreciation for the bountiful gifts.
The goodie bags from Abbott were carefully curated to include necessity items that are useful to the seniors, so that there will not be wastage and unnecessary pile-up in their homes. The items include a pill box, toenail cutter and filer, surgical masks and wet wipes, and a tin of Ensure milk. The goodie bags were personally packed by the staff of Abbott Singapore.
Ms Marlene Low, the financial director at Abbott Singapore was present at the event to give out the goodie bags sponsored by the company. Abbott has been working with O’Joy Limited to support vulnerable families and older adults in Singapore for the past three years. Each year, Abbott provides these communities with essential items including oral nutrition supplements – an effort that is driven by their purpose of helping more people live better and healthier lives. This year, O’Joy decided to extend this kind gesture to the Geylang West Care Team who serves seniors in the same area.
Choo Jin Kiat, the Executive Director of O’Joy Limited said: “Sharing of resources amongst social service agencies and the neighbourhood care teams is important and will ultimately benefit the community in Upper Boon Keng.”
PC Lim who heads the Geylang West Care Team said: “The goodie bag is a thoughtful gift of love as the contents are selected based on the care needs of the seniors. It will definitely be helpful to them.” The 120 recipients of the goodie bags were needy seniors and persons under the care of the Geylang West Care Team, who visits them regularly to monitor their wellbeing.
About sixty seniors came to collect their ang pows and goodie bags at the Geylang West Community Centre. Home-bound or less ambulant seniors had their goodie bags delivered to their homes.
If you like to know more about the work of O’Joy Limited or Geylang West Care Team, please check out our websites.
Comments