SINGAPORE – Music leisure, a fortunate draw and lo hei had been a part of an early Chinese language New 12 months celebration for greater than 60 senior residents at Care Nook Senior Exercise Centre in Woodlands on Monday (Jan 20).
Organised by the SPH Company Communications and Company Social Accountability Division, with 18 members of the SPH Workers Volunteers Membership, the occasion was a part of yearly efforts by volunteers from Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) to unfold festive cheer to the group.
Performances by two contestants of SPH’s Received Expertise 2019, a workers competitors, had the seniors enthusiastically crooning alongside.
Mr Hu Tian Pei, 31, assistant music director for Mandarin radio station UFM100.three, carried out two Mandopop songs. “I’m glad that the aged sang alongside,” he mentioned, including that he may “really feel their happiness” as he sang.
One other spotlight was the go to by the “God of Fortune”, who distributed mandarin oranges to the seniors. Mr Andrew Lum, SPH’s assistant supervisor of company communications and company social accountability, mentioned he volunteered for the position as he was born within the 12 months of the Rat, in 1972.
“Understanding that somebody who was born within the 12 months of the Rat is dressed because the God of Fortune to usher within the 12 months of the Rat with them places a smile on their faces,” mentioned the 48-year-old.
Whereas the costume was stuffy and he was unable to see something for essentially the most half, he mentioned bringing laughter to the aged and his colleagues made it a enjoyable expertise.
The seniors, in flip, handled the volunteers to a wholesome yusheng, which had taken them three hours to organize. Their model had additional greens and vegetarian abalone, and included fewer oily and fried parts. In addition they tucked right into a bento lunch and took half in reminiscence video games and a fortunate draw.
As a part of the annual SPH Cares with Baggage of Love occasion, 120 “fortune luggage” had been additionally given out to the needy aged on the centre and at their houses. Every bag contained every day important gadgets equivalent to brown rice, medicated plasters and oil, a toothbrush and toothpaste, Milo and mandarin oranges.
The SPH workers volunteers had celebrated Chinese language New 12 months with members of the centre final 12 months.
Ms Chin Soo Fang, SPH’s head of company communications and company social accountability, mentioned it was a significant transfer because the volunteers get to see acquainted faces and deepen engagement with the aged.
Agreeing, Mr Daniel Chien, 58, senior group director at Care Nook Singapore, mentioned: “Chinese language New 12 months may be one of many loneliest occasions for some aged. This occasion permits them to really feel they aren’t forgotten, however nonetheless cared for,” he mentioned.
Care Nook Singapore is a non-profit organisation with 33 service centres islandwide serving to, amongst others, low-income households, youth in danger, lonely seniors and particular wants kids.