Jingle Bells, Jingle All The Way to St Barnabas Home Klang

 



15 December 2012  -  It is still ten days to Christmas but the Santas and Santarinas of 1Month 1Charity decided to drop in to St Barnabas Home in Klang to bring Xmas gifts and spread Xmas cheer to the kids there.  Even without the traditional Christmas turkey or Christmas pudding, the local food spread of fried meehoon, curry chicken, KFC, cupcakes and curry puffs were appetising enough.  Vitagen and soft drinks in assorted flavours were the thirst-quenchers of the day.

We arrived in our individual "sleighs" around 12 noon with the goodies.  Food and drinks were unpacked and laid out on the table.  Christmas presents, school bags and school uniforms arranged orderly for distribution.  The school bags and school uniforms are part of 1Month 1Charity's Back-To-School program for the year. 

Let's have one photo before the Party begins

The kids waiting in anticipation

Santa Chew giving the customary welcoming speech with George, the Caretaker 

Started off with filling our tummies, the young Santa and Santarina volunteers; Tony, Chuah brothers, Sonia and Chloe were a great help in coordinating the food line.  The well-mannered kids made their job a piece of cake.  Yours truly took charge of the drinks tables n discovered that these kids preferred Vitagen over soft drinks, a useful info to keep in mind for future parties. 

Kids in line for makan

Meehoon, curry chicken & KFC served here

Mostly request of  "Vitagen please"

Two of the helpful young Santas, Chuah & Tony

Ong with Tony

Hey, I used to play this when I was young

OK Kids, get yourselves under the Christmas tree

After food, comes entertainment - Christmas Songs Sing-Along with Max the Guitarist, followed by games.  Again the young Santa and Santarina volunteers came to the rescue and helped made the game events a fun-filled one. 

Little Andrew with Max

Getting ready for an old-time favourite - Musical Chairs

Blowing the Balloons - another old-time favourite not meant for the faint-hearted me

Signing the Christmas Card for the kids of St Barnabas



Okay, time to get down to serious business and the moment the kids have been waiting for .... Christmas presents!!!  Santa Chew and Santa Yong presented each kid with the gift of their choice, school bags and school uniforms.  Earlier on, Santa Chew already received the kids' Christmas wishes from George, their Caretaker and since they have been nice and good this whole year, Santa Chew decided to fulfill their wishes.  With the help of his kind friends, who unfortunately was unable to attend this party, these kids got their heart's wish.

Santa Chew with one of the Kids

Santa Yong & his Princess with another of the Kids

Happy faces captured in photo

The party ended on a happy note, for both the Kids and the Volunteer Santas and Santarinas.  The Kids went back hugging their gifts and the volunteers went home hugging happy memories of the day.

Merry Christmas!

My Birthday Celebration @ Pusat Jagaan Beribuan Kasih

28 October 2012  -   Time really flies - 43 years ago, on this date, I came into this world.  Birthday celebrations when young was non-existent due to circumstances.  After having kids, my birthdays are celebrated more or less for their sake - with a dinner (kids' choice, of course), flowers from dear Hubby, cards from kids - suffice to make my Big Day.

However, this year, dear Hubby indulged me with a birthday celebration in an Orphanage in Kajang.  To make it more special, I decided to share this day with a resident of the Home whose birthday was a week earlier.  Choosing the menu was easy as we wanted to treat the kids to Pizza (which they rarely gets).  Armed with 8 pizzas and a 2kg chocolate cake, we made our way to Pusat Jagaan Beribuan Kasih in Kajang, and was met with squeals of delight from the kids upon seeing us (or rather what we brought, haha).  We also dropped by Sushi King earlier and bought some sushi and other Japanese delicacies for the elderly Japanese lady who lived there.  Even though, language is still a barrier between us, but the expression on her face conveyed her feelings well.

Pizzas in assorted flavours

Hubby getting down to work - distributing pizzas

Kids enjoying pizzas at the tables ...

... while some enjoyed it on the floor due to lack of proper dining tables

An old man enjoying new food

This boy is only 3 years old and washes his own plate - puts a lot of our kids to shame

Watching the kids enjoying their pizza, with a few going up to Hubby for second helping, is indeed a heartwarming scene.   What may be common to one kid can be a rare treat for another living in less fortunate circumstances.  Even the elderly was seen chomping down their pizzas heartily.  But my biggest satisfaction should be seeing the elderly Japanese lady eating her sushi n chawan mushi - food she immediately recognised from her native land which brought BIG smiles n Arigatos from her.

Wonder when was the last time she had Sushi?

On a sadder note, upon noticing an elderly Indian man standing alone by the door, I went over to chat with him only to realize that he was unable to partake of the pizza we brought cause he was toothless!  Feeling so bad, we made a mental note to remember including some soft food the next time we decide to bring treats to any Home with elderly folks.

After having had their fill, the kids waited eagerly for the cake-cutting session.  I gave this honour  to the other birthday girl, Eswary, this being her first birthday celebration in this Home after so many years there.  She was visibly overcomed with emotion when the kids sang the birthday song for her.  Hubby and I bought her a birthday gift – a crystal pendant – which I helped her wore and she happily showed to the others.  A small gift yet able to bring a Big Smile from her.  I had my share of surprise too when Kavitha presented me a gift from the Home.  Deeply touched by her gesture.

Admiring the cake

The other birthday girl, Eswary cutting the cake

Eswary's birthday gift from us - a crystal pendant

My birthday gift from Kavitha n her kids - a lovely rose pouch

We stayed awhile, taking photos of each kid, intending to set up a photo album for them.  When we presented the photo album of the Zoo Trip to Kavitha, I was told that these kids has never had any album or photos for keeps before.

Kids pondering over the photo album of the Zoo Trip

Before departing, we gave Kavitha our contribution of RM1000 for the Deepavali clothes. Part of the contribution came from our good friend, the Thong family, my sister Winnie and my two generous sons, Gary and Jordan. Thank you so much for bringing some Light and Cheer to these kids.  Also not forgetting a Big Thank You to dearest Hubby for giving me the best birthday ever...  

Happy Birthday to Me!

A Zoo Trip With An Orphanage

29 September 2012  -  A memorable day which the kids and their minders from Pusat Jagaan Beribuan Kasih Kajang will never forget for a long, long time.  This was their first outing to Zoo Negara and later was told by the Caretaker that this was also their only outing since this Home was set up 6 years ago.  The idea to bring them to Zoo Negara was conceived about 2 months ago when during one of our visits, Kavitha (the Caretaker) mentioned that her kids had never been out on an outing before.  Somehow, Zoo Negara popped into mind and after getting Hubby’s agreement, we told Kavitha our plan.

Things fell into place smoothly with support coming in from kind-hearted friends.  Along the way, made some new friends – wonderful people who went out of their way to assist us upon learning our plan.  Hubby’s colleagues pledged to sponsor the bus and lunch.  Mr Chandra who sponsored the lunch even brought his family along on that day.  A 44-seater luxury bus was secured by my dear sister and the Bus Company's owner even did his bit by sponsoring dinner at Old Town White Coffee, another first for these kids.  A family friend who brought her family along for the trip also made some contribution.  Not forgetting my FB friend, Madam Lee SP and her hubby - angels who took time out of their busy schedule just to meet us at the Zoo to deliver snacks to the kids.

Thus, the date was set on 29 September 2012.  With the helpful assistance from Zoo Negara’s Customer Relation Manager, Encik Helmie, we purchased the tickets a week beforehand at a discounted price.   We also bought the Zoo’s Goodie Bag containing animal caps and notebooks for the kids for keepsake and arranged lunch inside the Zoo.  The Manager of the Wild Restaurant, Encik Amran is another kind soul who gave us discount on the food.  The Old Town White Coffee outlet in Bandar Tasik Selatan, upon learning that our guests for dinner are from an Orphanage also offered us some discount. 

The Goodie Bag - thoughful gifts from dear Hubby

On the day itself, the bus arrived at the Home at 9.00am and all the 25 kids and 6 caretakers were ready to go.   Getting them into the bus was no trouble at all as they were very disciplined and obedient.  And this same discipline is noted all throughout the trip. 

Wei Wei leading the kids to the Bus

Yeah, we are going to the Zoo

My wonderful tour leader, Winnie and her assistant, Gary

A Group photo was taken before ushering the kids into the Zoo.  Our first destination is the Show Amphitheatre where the Animal Show takes place.  The kids obediently took their seats and waited patiently for the show to start.  Excitement were evident in their faces as they watched the various animals perform their individual skills under their trainer’s instruction. 



Group Photo

Waiting in line at the Entrance



The kids go marching two by two, hurrah hurrah ...



Waiting for the Show to begin ...



The show ended at noon and the kids were then brought to the Wild Restaurant where a section of the Restaurant has been thoughtfully prepared for these kids’ arrival by its owner, Encik Amran.  On the tables, burgers, fried chicken, fries and Coke greeted these kids and they heartily tucked into their lunch. 



Lunch time - courtesy of Mr Chandra



Tucking into Burger, Fried Chicken, Fries n Coke

Little Haresh enjoying his Fried Chicken

After a fulfilling lunch, it was time to burn off the calories and the tour of the Zoo started with my sister and elder son, Gary leading the group.  We stopped occasionally to allow the kids to have closer look at the animals, ask questions and take some photos.  Being first time experience for these kids, their curiosity and questions were endearingly refreshing.  After walking for 2 hours, Uncle Chew threw in another treat for the kids – Ice-Cream.  We stopped at the Wall's Ice-cream kiosk and the Manager of the outlet upon learning that his young customers of the day were from an Orphanage, kindly gave us some discount on the ice-cream.  We finished the rest of the tour around 4pm and before leaving  the Zoo, the kids were brought to a Souvenir shop where the Owner has generously prepared small gifts for them. 

Jacinta is a great help with Little Gishan

Feeding the elephants - one of the highlight of the day for these kids

 

Armed with goodies and happy memories, the happy but tired group boarded the bus, but the party is not over yet.  The bus took us to Bandar Tasik Selatan where we had earlier booked dinner at the Old Town White Coffee outlet.  The awe on the kids faces is evident as they have never dine is such places before.  Even though dinner was just a simple Nasi Lemak and Ice-Lemon Tea but the atmosphere and service rendered by the staff made them feel like VIPs. 

A first for the kids - dining at a restaurant like this

Food may be simple but the ambience makes a whole difference

Kavitha enjoying a relaxing moment with her daughter

Finally, we reached the Home around 7pm.  It was heartwarming to see each kid thank the bus driver as they alight the bus one by one.  A simple gesture done sincerely out of their hearts, without being prompted or instructed. 

As I told Hubby, this has to be the best Zoo Trip I've ever been to, and it would not have been possible without the support from dear friends. To all who contributed meals, treats, snacks and most importantly your heart, towards this trip, my deepest appreciation and heartfelt thanks to you all.  Know that the few hours of your time which you have given up today has brought bountiful happiness to these kids and the lasting memories which will stay with them for a long time.