Former stock dealer Foo Say Thye was so inspired by his friend, who helped many people with disabilities, that he started doing volunteer work himself.
He started his own volunteer group called Heartwarmers in 2007. Among other initiatives, they serve breakfast to the elderly at Christalite Methodist Home every week.
In 2017, they began running a project to help lower-middle-income beneficiaries to buy groceries at a 50% discount.
Mr Foo was one of the five winners of the annual Silent Heroes Awards conferred by social welfare organisation Civilians Association of Singapore yesterday.
First given out in 2014, the annual awards aim to recognise Singaporeans and permanent residents who have made a difference in their communities without seeking any rewards or recognition.
Social and Family Development Minister Desmond Lee said at the gathering: “We’re not just holding them up as heroes, but doing so so that people across Singapore will be inspired to step forward, roll up your sleeves and make a difference.”
The other winners included Madam Rowena Leong, 72, who has volunteered since she was 48.
Among other activities, the part-time nurse in a clinic looked after elderly people living in rental flats in Lavender for about five years. She cleaned their homes, cooked for them and lent them a listening ear.
Another winner, Mr Jeremy Tong, 29, an outdoor education specialist, raised more than $13,000 for the Children’s Cancer Foundation this year through climbing Mount Everest in May and undertaking a 42km walk across Singapore that he organised in July.
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Source: The Straits Times, 1 September 2019