The world of Tzu Chi September-October 2021 (Vol.137)

TZU CHI 137 25 Godsent help No one left behind Tears of joy Syabeela was a beneficiary of Tzu Chi’s “Kita1Keluarga” relief programme last year. Knowing her family’s predicament and that she had no transport, volunteers decided to deliver an unclaimed food set to her. When contacted, she had just bought a small portion of porridge to share with her children, and was about to buy some biscuits with the RM1 she was left with. “These are a godsend!” She exclaimed seeing the assortment of food. The following week, volunteers again delivered a food set to her. Their kindness moved her to the core. She sobbed, “If it were not for you all, I would not have gotten all these foods. Thank you, Tzu Chi, from the bottom of my heart!” Farah, an unemployed single mother, was content with the food supplies from Tzu Chi. However, she did not turn up as expected during the second distribution. A volunteer rang her up only to find that she had been hospitalized for Covid-19. Considering that her 15-year- old elder daughter could only prepare some very simple meals for herself and her 9-year-old sister, the volunteers quickly swapped the fresh vegetables for dry food, vegetarian instant noodles, canned food, eggs, biscuits and cocoa powder, and sent them to their home. Volunteers also assured Farah that they would continue to care for her daughters and pray for her recovery. Farah was thankful for the Great Love the volunteers have shown her and felt lucky to have met Tzu Chi. Sunita, who is in her late 60s, could not go and collect the food supplies on her own as her son was working outstation. Therefore, volunteers arranged for delivery. She shared with the volunteers that it was tiring to singlehandedly look after her husband with Alzheimer’s disease. She had applied for a wheelchair from the Social Welfare Department, but due to the cumbersome process and the movement control order, she had not yet been able to acquire one. Volunteers took note of her difficulty and brought her a wheelchair along with food supplies on August 15. She cried tears of joy and said, “Thank God! Thank you so much for everything!” To show her gratitude, she whipped up delicious Indian food for the volunteers to taste. Bringing Love to Community through Food Care