After a day of virtual meetings, research and syllabus planning, university lecturer Judy Sng is not ready to kick up her feet – instead, she has been heading to her local community club (CC) every day to give out meals to Muslims breaking fast.
She is one of about 10 volunteers daily at the CC helping to distribute catered halal meals to people in the holy month of Ramadan. Every day, the MacPherson volunteers also go on to deliver about 50 of these meal boxes to the doorsteps of vulnerable or needy seniors and residents.
They are doing this as part of SGUnited Buka Puasa, an initiative that provides 20,000 meals a day to healthcare workers and their families, Zakat beneficiaries of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), and others in need during Ramadan. Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, requires Muslims to donate money to the needy.
SGUnited Buka Puasa, launched amid the Covid-19 pandemic, is a joint effort by Muis, local mosques, the Rahmatan lil Alamin Foundation, Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, People’s Association, and the youth-driven non-profit Roses of Peace.
Around the start of Ramadan, Dr Sng saw a middle-aged Malay volunteer go door to door to pass the SGUnited Buka Puasa boxes to vulnerable seniors. After realising he might not be able to break fast in time with his family, she took over the bulk of his duties with her husband and a team of young volunteers.
About 30 Malay and about 50 non-Malay volunteers are involved at MacPherson CC throughout Ramadan for SGUnited Buka Puasa.
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Source: The Straits Times, 18 May 2020