By Vincent D’Silva

“We feel that what we are doing is worth just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

JOHOR BARU: Just as they thought it would be a quiet Chinese New Year celebration, inmates of Kempas Welfare & Nursing Home (Pusat Jagaan Warga Istimewa Kempas) had a pleasant surprise with the visit from management and staff of Goodhope Hotel here.

The hotel brought festive cheer to the 42 inmates of the home comprising individuals with Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, dementia, schizophrenia, the elderly as well as those who are mentally challenged and physically handicapped, aged between 29 and 98 years old.

Group general manager Callie Tan said it is the hotel’s duty to care and utilise the core values included in its corporate social value programme.

The hotel brought food, shower gel, shampoo, toiletries, diapers and oranges and handed them to the home manager Saraswathy Letchumanan.

“We can do no great things, only small things with great love,” said Tan who was accompanied by hotel senior manager Hanafi Abdullah and other staff.

Tan and other hotel staff mingled with residents of the home and helped feed a few elderly inmates.

She said the hotel decided that it was timely especially during the festive season the need to help others which is a step forward in reaching out to the less fortunate.

“The personal satisfaction is much more meaningful when we give back to society by way of charitable acts,” said Tan, adding that the happiest people were not those who receive but those who give.

She also stressed the need to promote harmony, goodwill, peace and unity and hope that their visit put smiles on the faces of the inmates. They later handed over ang pow to the inmates.

Callie Tan hands over ang pow to an inmate during the visit

Saraswathy was delighted and expressed her thanks to the hotel for choosing her home this time.

“The things you have delivered will definitely be put to good use and for this I express my deepest and sincere thanks,” she said.

She said these days, public donations have reduced tremendously and it has been a little tough in seeking contributions.

“Times are bad and we just passed the Covid-19 pandemic, while just getting to normalcy,” she lamented.

Saraswathy welcomed donations in kinds and cash to upkeep the home and its operations is indeed huge.

She said the home has been operating for the past 25 years and the monthly operating costs, including medical bills for the residents, is about RM26,000.

An inmate being fed by Callie Tan.