By Vincent D’Silva
JOHOR BARU: The Rotary Club of Johor Baru (RCJB) brought cheer to 20 underprivileged families by contributing in cash and kind amounting to more than RM10,000 in conjunction with Chinese New Year.
Its president, Henry Chin handed over the assistance to these families so they could have a meaningful Chinese New Year celebration.
“We hope that this gesture will leave a smile on their faces and let them have a more meaningful celebration,” he said after handing over ang pow and food stuff to the needy families at the Sri Stulang People’s Housing Project here.
“Not only do we celebrate festive occasions with the community annually, our thought are also always with the less fortunate, especially during a time when they need more attention, care and love,” he said.
Chin and two other RCJB officials Tan Chee Sheng and Joe Pua distributed groceries to single parents, the elderly, and the disabled to help them prepare for the celebration. Also present were other RCJB officials.
The on-off Covid-19 in lockdowns had hampered many events of RCJB which the club had intended to carry out.
He said now was the right time to carry out the deeds due since Malaysians are now free to move around.
Chin said the club’s act of giving “comes from the heart” as the economic downturn and the pandemic had made lives more difficult for poor families.
Chin urged those who receive the ang pow to spend it wisely or save it, instead of spending it on unnecessary items.
“Our bit in helping the needy families celebrate Chinese New Year is to show that we care for them during these trying times and prove that help is always around the corner,” he added.
The recipients said they were grateful to RCJB for the donation and hoped it would reduce their burden.
“Visitors bringing glad tidings have been very few and far in-between. This visit by the RCJB because of Chinese New Year is timely,” remarked Chin.
The red “ang pow” packets that Chin and his team gave away drew squeals of delight that prompted the RCJB leader to plead to the rich to consider the plight of the less fortunate.
“However little the effort at helping the less fortunate, it will go a long way in showing them that society cares,” said Chin.
RCJB, a service organisation, aims to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian services and help build goodwill and peace.
Officials from the Rotary Club of Johor Baru (in jacket) handing over groceries and ang pow to needy families for the upcoming Chinese New Year
RCJB president Henry Chin (second from right) handing over groceries to Maria Hang (left) while Rotarian Tan Chee Sheng looks on at Sri Stulang flats.
