Behind the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown early Sunday morning on Oct 4, an unassuming charity operation quietly got to work.
By 7.45am, supporters and volunteers had arrived with boxes of household essentials. There was already a queue.
At about 8.15am, the volunteers started to distribute bread, rice, eggs, talcum powder, and other household necessities.
Many of the 150 beneficiaries were elderly, with several arriving in wheelchairs.
They were issued queue numbers and then waited patiently for the free household products.
These may be modest items. But when family budgets are stretched by rising costs, a few tins of food and some eggs can go a long way.
A 34-year-old Indonesian domestic helper, who only wanted to be known as Indra, was there with her elderly, wheelchair-bound employer. She said: “Kong-kong and I come here nearly every time because these free items help reduce expenses.”
Among the Chinese, Kong-kong is an affectionate term for a grandfather.
The charity initiative began three years ago when businessman Eddie Lim started distributing surplus household items and foodstuffs to residents in the area.
Today, the initiative has developed into a regular twice-monthly charity exercise that has quietly created a bridge between communities, with volunteers and businesses coming together to help elderly and less fortunate residents.
Director of several businesses and an associate director at PropNex Realty, 60-year-old Mr Mukesh Metharam, also known as Mike, joined the effort a year ago. He believes the initiative is addressing an often-overlooked problem.
“There are many people who genuinely want to help those who are less fortunate, but may not know where to start or how to contribute.”
He added: “If we can provide an opportunity for people to come together and make a difference, even in a small way, it would mean a lot to the community.”
Mike’s friend Naresh Vaswani, 51, a financial consultant at Income Insurance and a final-year doctoral student, was drawn not only by the practical arrangement but also by the opportunity to be part of something meaningful.
He said: “I volunteered for this initiative because it gave me an opportunity to help those in need while allowing me to manage my other commitments.
“With the distribution taking place twice a month and wrapping up within 90 minutes, I can still spend the rest of Sunday with my family, while also keeping up with work and studies.”
Ms Lynn Myint, 50, a nurse, decided to volunteer after Mike told her about the people who needed help.
“I decided to step up and do my part,” she said.
The initiative also reflects a personal commitment from Mr Lim, 75, who was originally from Myanmar and is now a Singapore citizen.
For him, helping others is a way of giving back to the community.
“There’s only me, my wife, and my son, so I took on this opportunity to do something useful for those struggling with the rising cost of everyday essentials,” he said.
The initiative has also grown beyond its original circle of supporters. Businesses, including those selling Myanmar merchandise at Peninsula Plaza, have come aboard.
For the volunteers, there is also an intangible reward.
“I get a good buzz doing this and helping others,” one volunteer said.
Perhaps that captures the spirit of the initiative best.
Charity does not always have to begin with a large organisation, a substantial budget or a sophisticated system.
Sometimes, it begins with surplus goods that would otherwise go to waste, with someone willing to distribute them and other people prepared to help.
All it takes is for a group of people to say yes.
Today, Mike and his fellow volunteers are still saying yes and turning surplus into sustenance, one helping hand at a time.
