JOHOR BAHRU: While the Chinese community at large is busy preparing for the New Year celebrations, NGOs have not forgotten to bring cheer to lonely, needy families and single parents.

Chinese New Year can actually be one of the loneliest times for some elderly and poverty-stricken families. Hence, the Rotary Club of Johor Baru (RCJB) decided that these people should not be deprived or forgotten as they need to be cared for.

As a caring community, RCJB brought some festive season happiness to some 30 families residing at PPR Taman Iskandar flats.

RCJB handed out basic food rations such as rice, sardines, cooking oil, flour, biscuits, sugar, noodles and other necessary items.

Many low-income household struggle to put food on the table, much less on festivities; while single parents and elderly may feel they are often unnoticed.

Not wanting to leave anyone out RCJB and in the spirit of inclusiveness and diversity, started Festive Cheer as an annual initiative to reach out and touch the lives of the underserved, creating a sustainable impact in improving the lives of the community, especially during major festive seasons.

RCJB president Dr. Vishwadeep Singh Sandhu and his officials arrived at the Taman Iskandar flats and handed over the plastic bags containing rations while spending time with the residents.

In the true spirit of Chinese New Year, he said, prosperity need not solely mean material wealth as there are things that are priceless.

“These include the joy that we experience in life such as when we spend quality time with our friends and family,” he said.

Dr. Vishwadeep said the visit to Taman Iskandar flats were not just another annual affair, but a mission aimed at instilling care and togetherness among its officials and the residents.

For every festive season RCJB has been organizing such events for the needy families and they ensured no families are left out.

“We want to share the festive spirit. It is also the season for giving. We hope our small ‘ang pow’ can help them out,” he said.

We were under no illusion these efforts were sufficient to aid the poor but if we did not do what little we did, they would be worse off for the neglect. We must all do what we can. It is in giving that we receive,” he summed up.

“I had wanted to go out the way I came in, by making a difference to the homeless and the helpless for that is what rotary is all about – to help the less fortunate,” he said.

“There are very poor Chinese families who could use this help but we felt that if we should not confine our aid to them only, we want to include all races,” he said.

We at RCJB, he said, want to bring the year of the dragon joy to poor families at the Taman Iskandar flats, and we want to generate this good feeling for all communities.

“That is why we are not confining our donations to only one community,” said Dr. Vishwadeep.

He said that RCJB’s Chinese New Year charity drive exemplifies the club’s motto, which is ‘Service Above Self’.

Not surprisingly, this gesture of RCJB’s elicited expressions of gratitude from the recipients.

Single mother Chong Poh Chee, 63, lives all alone as her children had abandoned her. Her husband left her many years ago.

“Life is a bit difficult, especially with the economic downturn, but I make do with what I have.

“I live in a two-room flat. I do odd jobs here and there and get paid very little,” she said.

“The rations and the ‘ang pow’ I received will really liven up this festive season,” said Chong.

She said the rations and cash will her get through the month.

Meanwhile, Beba Velloo, 75, said she was happy at least RCJB remembered her during the Chinese New Year festivity.

Beba said she was thankful to RCJB and was happy to receive the food items and cash aid.

She lives with her son who is physically handicapped and jobless.

RCJB was inaugurated on July 22, 1952, and is said to be the first Rotary club in Johor. The late Sultan Sir Ibrahim and members of the royal family graced the inaugural installation dinner. Ever since then, the Sultan of Johor or his representative graces the annual installation dinner.