Fulfilling a Lunar New Year Invitation

During the 2024 Lunar New Year Charity Distribution Day, 67-year-old Peh Thiam Lye (on the right) expressed his delight at experiencing such a lively atmosphere after a long time. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)

67-year-old Peh Thiam Lye has received living assistance from Tzu Chi for a decade. Still, it wasn't until today that he stepped into Jing Si Hall for the first time. Pouring the money from his bamboo bank into the large donation pot himself, it was an extraordinary moment for him. Every year before the Lunar New Year, Tzu Chi volunteers always remember to invite him to participate in the festive charity distribution event. However, he had missed this event in previous years due to various circumstances.

Peh Thiam Lye used to have a stable family. However, his only son passed away at the age of 13, plunging his wife into deep sorrow and depression. Her health deteriorated rapidly after refusing treatment, rendering her unable to manage household chores, which led to a chaotic home environment and constant marital conflicts. Recently, his wife moved out of their home. Peh Thiam Lye suffers from chronic back pain, which requires long-term pain relief medication, and that led to his kidney failure. He has been undergoing dialysis for 18 years and is unable to work.

A volunteer is giving Peh Thiam Lye (right) a haircut to welcome the Lunar New Year. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)

With the support of Tzu Chi's living allowance and the caring assistance of volunteers akin to family, Peh Thiam Lye's turns his kind thoughts into dropping a coin daily into the bamboo bank, blessing himself and aspiring to give back to society. When the bamboo bank is full, he hands it to the volunteers every two to three months to contribute to Tzu Chi's charity fund.

On this day, Peh Thiam Lye stepped into the Jing Si Hall for the first time. He expressed how long it had been since he felt such a joyful and lively atmosphere. Pouring the money from the bamboo bank into the large donation pot, he finally fulfilled his long-held wish to visit Jing Si Hall, making the moment deeply meaningful.

The joyful atmosphere in the air uplifts the spirits of every care recipient who stepped into the Jing Si Hall! (Photo by Foong Kwai Kin)

Bringing Comfort to the Afflicted and Unleashing the Power of the Heart

On 21 January 2024, the Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) held two sessions of the Lunar New Year Charity Distribution Day at the Jing Si Hall. Care recipients started arriving before the clock struck ten in the morning. Some came on their own using public transportation or took the Tzu-Chi shuttle bus from the MRT station. At the venue, volunteers escorted those with mobility issues into Jing Si Hall. With gentle support from volunteers, the scene was heart-warming, resembling a festive homecoming. 

Home visit volunteers assisting care recipients with mobility issues into Jing Si Hall. (Photo by Foong Kwai Kin)

"This is the first time I've seen so many people enjoying a joyful day together since I started dialysis. It feels wonderful!" said 72-year-old dialysis patient Koh Gek Luan.

When Koh Gek Luan received the news that she needed dialysis treatment at the end of last year, she found it difficult to accept the sudden blow and fell into a state of despair. At one point, she even considered giving up on herself and refusing the fate of dialysis. Under various pressures, her weight dropped sharply from 65 kilograms to just over 40 kilograms.

With the referral from hospital social workers, the Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) initiated financial assistance for Koh Gek Luan's dialysis expenses, and volunteers regularly visited her at her home to encourage and stabilise her physical and mental well-being. Seeing some young patients in the dialysis centre who were only in their forties made her realise she was relatively fortunate and not the most challenging case.

This was also Koh Gek Luan's first time at Jing Si Hall. She expressed gratitude, saying she found it easier to leave her home with the volunteer's dedicated transportation service.

Upon arriving at the Jing Si Hall, volunteers first gave Koh Gek Luan and her helper a haircut. "Look, with a haircut, I feel so fresh and nice!" Koh Gek Luan said happily. "I'm delighted to be here and meet so many friends. This is the first time I see so many people together since I started dialysis. It's been a joyous day, and I'm delighted!"

Nyein Nyein, a helper from Myanmar who has recently arrived in Singapore and is unfamiliar with the surroundings, expressed her fondness for the atmosphere at Jing Si Hall and the delicious vegetarian food. Before returning home, she took a bamboo bank, hoping to contribute to charity.

Learning to let go of the pain of suffering from an illness, Koh Gek Luan (right) and her helper Nyein Nyein (left), participate in the Lunar New Year Charity Distribution Day together. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)

Dedicated Volunteers Bring Warmth to Care Recipients with their Sincere Care

"Three, two, one! Happy New Year!"

Before sitting down for the meal, the care recipients and their families took a joyous photo in the photo area, capturing a moment of happiness. Outside the venue were services for hair cutting, spring couplets, health checks, "Bamboo bank returns home," and DIY lantern making. It's worth mentioning that the various red packets used to make the lanterns were all recycled. The small and exquisite red packets were beautiful and novel, making them irresistible. Volunteers also encouraged everyone to take home the completed red packet lanterns as household decorations.

Outside the venue, there were various activities, and the care recipients captured joyous moments in the photo area. (Photo by Chua Zhen Jia)

"Attention, everyone! We need to get all the food ready by 10 o'clock. Then bring them to the tea art classroom, and remember to serve the dishes according to the planned order!"

The head of the food preparation volunteer team reminded the team members. Before sunrise, 24 food preparation volunteers began preparing a sumptuous vegetarian feast early this morning in the Jing Si Hall kitchen. The menu included colourful cold dishes, kung pao mushrooms, spinach, hermicium mushrooms, a mixed vegetable stew, and peach gum with snow fungus—six vegetarian delicacies.

The food preparation volunteers also prepared liquid food to facilitate the enjoyment of those care recipients with difficulty swallowing. "Some care recipients can only consume liquid food, so we make sure to soften the food to ensure that every care recipient who participates can enjoy the delicious meals happily," said Yeoh Poy Ngo, the coordinator accompanying the food preparation team.

The volunteers diligently preparing delicious vegetarian dishes. (Photo by Chong Mong Zhuang)

The table was filled with plates of delicious dishes prepared by the volunteers, which amazed Tan Liang Chwee and his family of six. The Tan family often goes out for leisure, with Tan's daughter and grandson accompanying him. Tzu Chi's annual Lunar New Year Distribution Day was an event the family had not missed for five years. Today, the four generations of the Tan family gathered together. Tan Wang Hoon, the daughter, her son, daughter-in-law, and two great-grandchildren came. In the afternoon, the entire family wore festive crimson attire and especially took a bus from the Jurong area to get to Jing Si Hall with joyful hearts.

Tan Wang Hoon said that accompanying her father on outings was a family tradition. Despite her father, Tan Liang Chwee, living alone, the occasional care from Tzu Chi volunteers reassured her. Every year, participating in the Lunar New Year Charity Distribution Day, the festive atmosphere, the warm smiles of the volunteers, the retrospective videos on the screen, the celebratory performances on stage, and the delicious vegetarian dishes made her feel warm-hearted and at peace. The event's content may vary each year, but the sense of touching warmth remains constant.

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