Meet Mr Leo Kok Ong, who, at 74 years old of age and weak, still collects cardboard boxes and recyclable trash from the neighbourhood, to support his wife who is intellectually disabled and adult son who has Cerebral Palsy.
"I worked hard to collect as much trash as I could every day, my flat and the common corridor were filled with my hoardings. However, my neighbours were afraid that the hoardings were a fire hazard to our community and complained about the smell of urine and bad odours from my flat. The lack of money, the stress of care-giving, the conflict with my neighbours, and no one to speak to about my problems, pushed me to a breaking point…”
"Fortunately, Fei Yue Family Service Centre (Bukit Batok), learnt of my situation and assigned a social worker to help me and my family. They helped to renovate my flat, provided counselling sessions to help me cope with the stress of supporting my family and improve the relationship with my neighbours, financial assistance, food rations, and even provided therapy to improve my son’s condition.
This is how my renovated flat looks like now.”
"I never complained about my troubles because it is my responsibility to take care of my family. My only wish is that people see me as a caring parent trying to do my best for my family and not as a dirty, smelly and old Karung Guni man.”
"Will you help me and other families in need to achieve self-reliance?”
Community Chest supports over 40 Family Service Centres that provide counselling support and referral services for low-income families like Mr Leo’s. They rely on your generous support to turn humble hopes for a stable family into reality, for people like Mr Leo.
Under the Care & Share Movement, donations will be matched $1- to- $1 by the Government from now till 31 Mar 2016. Double your help for the less fortunate today. Click the "Buy” button to donate now.
About Community Chest
Community Chest raises funds on a yearly basis to meet the needs of the social service programmes that they help support. Community Chest ensures that fund-raising and other operating costs are kept to a minimum. As these costs are covered mainly by Tote Board and Singapore Pools, every dollar raised by Community Chest will be made available to social service programmes under their care.
About the Care & Share Movement
Care & Share is a national fund-raising and volunteerism movement led by Community Chest for the social service sector, as Singapore approaches its 50th year of independence in 2015. It aims to bring our nation together to show care and concern for the needy and recognise the contributions made by voluntary welfare organisations. The matched amount will go towards building the capabilities and capacities of the social service sector to meet rising needs. To support this movement, please visit careandshare.sg or email csm@ncss.gov.sg
Website: http://www.comchest.sg
Email: ncss_comchest@ncss.gov.sg