It was raining quite heavily this morning and we just wanted to stay home and hide under the blankets, but we got out of the house anyway because we were going to deliver food hampers for BB Share-A-Gift!

The last couple of times we delivered food hampers, we only brought Anya along with us. However, my folks were out of town today so we lugged all three kids to BBHQ and then to Tanglin Halt. It certainly wasn’t easy, especially with the rain, but it was a meaningful experience for the whole family. I’m thankful that all (except one) of the blocks were close together and linked by sheltered walkways and that they had lifts serving every floor.

Adrian loading the food hampers in the rain

delivering the hampers

one of the beneficiaries

his first BB Share-A-Gift!

chatting with one of the beneficiaries

We don’t really have any family traditions for Christmas but this is something that we plan to do every year as a family. As we remember the reason for the season, we should also try to bring joy to the less fortunate at Christmas by giving of our time, money and energy!

Here’s how you can help:

• Go to one of the donation locations and buy food items to donate. They need items like rice, biscuits, cooking oil, instant noodles, condiments, beverages and canned food (halal). You can also adopt wishes at some of the locations. The operating period is until 17 December 2014, 11.00 am to 9.00 pm daily.
• Those unable to make a trip down to a donation location or who are overseas can make an online donation of food and household hampers valued at $30 or $50.
• If you drive and have a vehicle, you can volunteer to deliver food hampers.
• Already actively involved? Tell your friends and family about BB Share-A-Gift and get them involved as well! Like their Facebook page to be kept updated about the items they need.

Do join us in helping the beneficiaries of BB Share-A-Gift!

The Boys’ Brigade (BB) Share-A-Gift is a community service project that I’ve been supporting for many years now, first as a teacher-in-charge of BB in the school I was teaching in, then as a BB officer, and now with my family. We make it a point to take the kids to buy food items for donation to the project and to explain to them who gets the food and why they need it. Last year, we also delivered food hampers and we took part in the delivery this time around as well.

When we reported for our delivery duty last Sunday, we were quite irritated by the lack of order. It wasn’t clear which gate we were supposed to drive in by so cars were trying to enter and exit at the same time. There was a van blocking the driveway even though it had a reserved car park lot and there were several volunteers standing around obstructing traffic. We didn’t know who or where we were supposed to report to and there was no one to help us load the bags. I was a bit unhappy about all this because the project has been going on for about 25 years and a clear system should be in place so as not to waste volunteers’ time and efforts.

At the end of the day, although things could have been better run, I think it’s important to focus on the aims of the project. BB Share-A-Gift reaches out to many needy people in Singapore and it promotes the spirit of caring for and sharing with others.

While we were doing our delivery, one lady returned her food hamper to us. She said that even though her husband had had a stroke and could not work, she was still fortunate to have a job and could earn enough to sustain the two of them. And since the husband and wife were vegetarians, many of the items in the food hamper would not be consumed by them. She wanted us to give the food hamper to someone who needed it more than she did. It was a humbling lesson in graciousness for me.

So I will continue to support this project and I hope that other Singaporeans, regardless of race or religion, will do so as well. You can still make donations, online or otherwise, and volunteer to deliver food hampers. Have a Heart; Share a Gift.

wearing the Share a Gift badge

all loaded up

taking the stairs

delivering to families in one-room flats

Besides buying and contributing food items to BB Share-a-Gift, we also volunteered to deliver food hampers and made our way to Kallang Coach Bay on Saturday afternoon. We were given 6 addresses to deliver to, with two food hampers for each address. After loading up the car with food hampers for delivery, we drove down to Bukit Merah View. All the recipients were old folks living on their own in 1-room flats.

Although she couldn’t carry any of the food hampers because they were very heavy, Anya helped by holding the lift door for us, looking for each unit, and pulling the trolley when it was empty. She was very friendly, said hello, shook hands, waved goodbye and didn’t complain a single time about the heat or anything.

I told Anya that the people we were delivering food hampers to were all as old as (or even older than) her Ah Zou (great grandmother) but without anyone to take care of them. Later, when she got two little kumquats from one kind old lady, she declared that she was going to keep one and give the other to her Ah Zou.

ready to go

Anya dashing into the lift

looking for the right home

waving goodbye

outside another house

she was given two little kumquats

waiting to load up

final delivery

Bring some cheer to the lives of the less fortunate this Christmas season! You can help by making donations at various locations, at any AXS station and online as well. You can also volunteer to deliver food hampers. Have a Heart, Share a Gift!