Reach Out Malaysia - KL Run

I was introduced to Reach Out by Jennifer whom we met via FB site, and finally had the time to join on the Saturday night run. We met up and proceed to PJ Hilton to pick up 30 packs of packet food. Traffic was slow tonight due to unknown reason as usual. We managed to reach Jalan Pudu at 1130 and had a drink before we proceed to the destination. Guess I am the newbie for the night.


First stop was Pudu Raya, saw about 20 homeless people there and the team just distribute the food pack as we see them. Some received it silently, while some gratefully said 'Terima kasih'. Its probably the night I heard the most 'Thank You' for a long time as I guess I dont get to hear the word in the busy daily life. Guess the rat race has taken the toll on basic courtesy in life?

As we assembled at the distribution points, some of the homeless came and say hello to the team, while some has slept and we just quietly put the food near to them. I seen Pete and the team greet the homeless like old friends and knowing them by name. Tonight's menu is rice pack, bottled water, oranges, RotiBoy bread and curry puffs.

The next stop was Bangkok Bank, there were about another 20 homeless there, far from the normal numbers due to recent DBKL raid. We proceed on foot to some of the shops where they were sleeping. Food pack were distributed to all. One guy was asking for Panadol, which we later found out that he has tyroid. Melvin went back to the van to get some for him.

Lots of dry food sponsored for the night

Cats are not spared! Dapat makan jugak! :)

Almost 1230am n father and son still ronda-ing around.. bread to the kid and dad....

 We proceed to another location and I have no idea where am I. We unload the food packs and the long queue seems to fall in place. Food was handed over quickly and orderly to at least 50 people. After we completed the distribution, I saw Pete talking to 2 old man, roughly 60 years of age. As I listen to their conversation, I can sense the frustration that the relevant authorities dont do much to help them beside arresting them. Arresting criminals to prevent them from doing more crime I can understand, but arresting the homeless to prevent them from being homeless, hmm...now *THAT* is the first! The pak cik speak fluent English, and I felt at his age, he should be at home taking care of the grandchildren and not 'hanging' around on the street. I guess everyone is there by circumstances and not by choice.

Lost City

We then proceed to next stop which is the Lost City around 100am. I was told about the 'Lost City' earlier and after so many stops, I found out the location is actually under the roundabout opposite Public Bank building at Jln Syed Putra. Somehow, the name Lost City seems to fit perfectly here, away from the chronic busyness of the city. I guess standing there in the middle of the night, looking at the homeless, gives you a different perspective from viewing it from a car when you drive by.

First customer of the night here...

As we walked further in, a black cat approach us and say 'Hi'....,OK, just pulling your legs. Guess the cat knows its supper time! Jennifer gave the cat some cat food and water. Pete lead the way for us, pinpointing where to put the food pack. There were roughly about 20-30 people there, from under the brige at both ends, to the ones sleeping on the grass at the middle of the round about. It was so dark that we cant hardly see anything under the bridge, I can only hear the sound of water rushing in Klang river. Over the other side of the river, there were a group of men sleeping and a young guy came over and told us there are 6 people there. As we sorted out the food and bread, Tiki started a conversation with him and found out that he is a Sarawakian, recently released from Singapore prison. Currently, has not start to find job yet. The conversation ended there as we were leaving to the other end of the river.

As we reach the other end, there were about another 6 people in the area. Under the darkness, a couple was awaken by our presence and I think she is pregnant as I couldnt see clearly in the darkness. The sight of her makes me wonder what would be the future of the baby when its born. :(

We then proceed to Masjid Negara, which estimated about another 30-40 people, sleeping at the open space. We leave the food with them and proceed to Klang Bus Station, where there are easily another 40 people sleeping in darkness.

Zzz...almost 2am...

After makan, lepak lo... they are the same as us..humans...

Our final destination was Restaurant Sukran opposite Menara Maybank. There is roughly about 25 people there, sleeping under the darkness of the night. We left the food pack with them and concluded for the night around 0200am. And one guy came and ask if there is any other food pack that has prawns since its nice and we told him no more. Little did we realised that he already taken a pack of food and wanted a 'better' one. Talk about selecting your food.. ;)

What else to say, except great job to Pete and the team for making a difference.



Like Arnold said... I will be Back! :P

Revisiting Esther Home JB

Persatuan Kebajikan Rumah Memperbaharui Johor Bahru. (2nd visit)

Date: 12/11/12
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Esther Home, 18 Jln Bulat Tmn Century 80250 JB
Care Taker: Ms Candy 016 7719514

Previous visit Info:
http://1month1charity.blogspot.com/2012/03/persatuan-kebajikan-rumah-memperbaharui.html

This is a revisit of Esther Home JB. The home was visited in April. As it is located outside Klang Valley, our team will visit them as and when we are there during our working trip.

We rang up Candy 12pm and check whether the home is in need of anything. Based on our last April visit, we were told that this home always run out of frozen meat.

Hence, we rang up to check and discovered that they need cooking oil, frozen chicken, fish, meat balls, Milo, sardine etc.


Enclosed is the bill for the items we purchased and contribute to ease the burden of the home amounting to RM 232.27.

Items purchased as shown, cooking oil, milo, bread, milk, frozen chicken, fish, meat ball, baked beans.

Thank you to all the sponsors.

Persatuan Kebajikan Sri Baba, Klang (2nd visit)

We visited them last in early February 2012, and I thought it would be good to follow up again. As usual, I called to ask what was needed and the main requirement was dry groceries.

When I arrived about 1pm, the tenants are having their lunch - rice with fish curry...and I see more curry than fish... Mohan was not around as he sent his kids to clinic, so I had a short conversation with his mother. The stories I heard, well, the children sending the parents as they are unable to take care as they have a house full of children to feed..8 kids! And sometimes, the children just do not want the parents to be back into their home. Not sure how to digest this - really...speechless...


As at now, there are about 16 old folks in the home, and some of them take care of the rest and as I was about to leave, I see them cleaning up after lunch, washing dishes and cleaning the tables. I was told they dislike eating vegetables and beans but like fish and chicken. So, remember to bear in mind if you are coming over.

I bought extra biscuits for the 4 kids I saw in earlier visit. but none of them was around. I was told that they do have doctors and dentist coming over to visit them weekly to provide check up and was advised not to stay there as the old folks sickness may spread to them.

After lunch... whats next?

Cleaning up after lunch

Helping to move him to the sofa...

The groceries consist of cooking oil (2 bottles), 2 x 10kg of rice, Babas Muruku , sugar, salt, bi hun, maggi mee, 1 pack of nuggets, 5 pack of hot dogs, 10 packs of Kraft tiger biscuit, washing powder,  washing softener, Ribena, tooth paste, orange juice, tomato and chili sauce, eggs, onions and potatoes. For this visit, total amount spent was RM328. If you think you can help, please contact Mohan at 016-292 2500.

As we get ready to wrap up for the year 2012, we will have a final event for the year which is the Back To School Program and Christmas Party for St Barnabas Home on the 15 Dec 2012... before the Mayan's prophecy comes true.. :P

St Judes Home, Shah Alam (Emergency Aid)

As I arrived at the home around 1030am, some of the old folks were sitting outside the sofa - looking at the morning serenity. Life tends to move at a slow pace here. I was responding to a FaceBook response post earlier, but due to time constraint, I was unable to respond to it. Quickly drop the groceries in the home and had a quick chat with Ravi. I was informed that they had run out of food earlier and they are just living with donations from donors.

Happy Face! :)

I bought some packets for biscuits for the kids and I couldnt feel happier to see the smile on their faces when I handed it to them. I didnt manage to take the rest of the kids' photos as they ran back to eat the biscuits!

Nothing much changed since our earlier trip, but good to see the improvement one of the tenants whom had his skull removed due to gang fight, has finally woke up, and able to eat and move around. His young wife is there taking care of him.

Guess what, the ducks have grew since the last time we were here 3 months ago. Hope to see more eggs and ducklings in the next trip! :)




The items donated are 2 packs of rice, vegetables, biscuits, Milo, sugar, bread, peanut butter, and Babas flour, potatoes, 2 trays of eggs and 2 3.5kg of bee hoon. Total spend RM253.30. The above groceries will be able to last for a month, so if you have time, do visit them.

Sponsorship To Other NGOs

In support of other charity NGO's, 1M1C do sponsor items in needs. For Sept 2012, we have sponsored to Project MADE's Tabung Ubat List and also charity event organised by the volunteers from "We Love, We Care, We Share".

Items donated to Project MADE's Tabung Ubat List

Fives of everything...

To the organisers of the events, you guys did great stuff and hope our small contribution will make a small difference in this big big world. Thank you to all donors for making this sponsorship possible, as without your donation, the recipients would not have benefited from the events organised by our sister NGOs.

St Barnabas Home, Klang

For this month activity, it was planned quiet late due to work commitments. But glad that it was done on the last day of the month ~which is Merdeka Day! I contacted the care taker, George during the Raya holidays to identify things that they need and had a full 30 minutes briefing on the home.

The hall downstairs

The hall downstairs is being used by the Rohingya refugees (non-Muslim) for free education, and this was requested by the UNHCR. The church sponsored RM1k monthly towards the children's meals (breakfast and lunch) and teachers' salaries. The activities are organised by Myanmar Migration of Klang. After reading this article, I guess I really dont know much about the migrants living here.

The team arrived at 2pm and George was there to greet us. Upon the usual introduction, we unload the groceries. We were brief on home situation and the children's background. The home is funded by the church which currently has 19 kids in the home, age ranging from 5 to 14 years old. The number of kids is reduced due to some has gone to work or left the home. The more you listen, the more heart ache you will feel, as some has not parents or single parent, whom are too poor to take care of them. There are two group of siblings where the parents are no longer around / unable to take care of them.

We later visited the children's floor and was introduce to the children. As sad as their story goes, you dont really see it in their happy faces...somehow, while writing this blog, it reminds me of this song.

Greetings visitors! Welcome!

Kitchen

Kids waiting patiently while Mamee is being distributed...

George with one of the children

Self-Introduction..I am Private Ryan, badge number ......

Only bought Mamee and forgot to get more junk food!

Daily roster...

George explaining to us on the home situation

We left about 245pm, heading out to check out a new old folks home. The kids happily shake our hands and pose for photographs as we leave. Now kids, behave!!!

Wishing us good bye...

Macam macam style ada... ;)

Kids will always be kids! :)

The total amount of groceries donated was RM200 with additional RM100 from Mdm Florence. Again, thank you to all donors and volunteers for your contributions.

St Judes Home, Shah Alam

We received an email request and decided do our bit to help the home. We did a pre-visit to the home to
understand the home's need and basically, its the grocery. We arrive on a hot Saturday afternoon, and was greeted by Mr Ravi and his wife. We quickly unload the groceries and was given a tour around the home.

Mini Ongs distributing the goodies to the kids

 
The home is only 4 years old, and mainly survived from donation from public, and also home rental is currently paid by the church. It currently is the home to 32 tenants, and 20 of them were picked up from the street or from General Hospital. There are 3 kids there, which was abandoned by their parents. There is also a few single mother staying there as well.

Mr Ravi briefing us on the home

The memory loss tenant....cant remember much

The porch

Welcome committee that was charging towards me when I arrived....It was either I ran back to my car or I stay still... and I won! :)

The 3 children abandoned by their parents

This uncle has memory lost, no IC, dont talk much. But due to our JPN Mobile, manage to match his fingerprint through their database and found he is from Pulau Ketam.

The home has their own little garden, and we also met the 20 new tenants that arrived today - 20 little ducklings.
 

Brinjal plants

Mini garden with all sorts of vegetables

The land beside the home where boards are thrown here

 

The boards are burned to get the metal for resale. We feel its a bit waste to burn it due to environment issue and hope someone will buy from there to make it a win-win situation

 

The young man that has his skull wack off....

The forgetful tenant...forgot that she has just eaten 15mins ago and claimed that she has not eaten for the whole day...

Donated items

In this home, I met the old, the blind, the mentally disturb, the memory lost, stroke patients, 2 ex-gangsters that are bed-ridden. One is a 25 years old man who had his head hacked and currently is living without partial of his skull and his 23-years old wife is taking of him, while the other is a early 50's man, bed-ridden due to stroke. As I see them lying there motionless, I can only wonder if they ever thought how their life would end up like this.


The home may not have much, but it provide a roof and food to the tenants. Even though the tenants have their own problems, but they help each other and make the home a better place to live in. While we were there, we can see them helping the rest that are unable to move by feeding them. It may look like sad situation for normal people, but from our 1 hour conversation with Ravi, I never sense a feeling of sad, anger or regret from him. I personally think it takes a strong man to do a job like this. It gives me hope in humanity that there are still people that are willing to give up all the material things in life for a better spiritual life.

For this round, we spent RM433.54 for the home with the following items purchased - diapers, mee hoon, vegetables, washing powder, bleach, dish washer, potatoes, tomatoes, soap, floor washing liquid, nuggets, onions, sardines and milk powder. Additional items donated are 10 tray of eggs (donor from NS) and 10 packet of Oligo drinks (Power Root). Ravi did request for 1 stand fan (3 if you can donate), a second hand freezer and some clothes.

Last but not least, I would like to thank all our donors and friends for giving us the funding to do more work like this. Also like to thank Ong & Wendy & kids for the support.

Additional information :- http://stjudehomepj.blogspot.com/