In a first-world country like Singapore, having three meals a day is hardly a concern. However for some, having anything to eat at all could be a problem faced daily. To be deprived of a basic need of life such as access to food, is an issue that most are blessed enough to go about their lives without ever having to worry about.
Willing Hearts is an organisation that is run by a small handful of staff members, but because of its sheer amount of activity, it needs to be supported by a constant supply of volunteers. Willing Hearts operates a soup kitchen that prepares, cooks and distributes about 5,000 daily meals to over 40 locations islandwide. With many that go hungry everyday, like those from poverty-stricken families, children from single-parent families, migrant workers, or elderly, soup kitchens brings the needy a step closer to fulfilling their basic nutritional needs.
Volunteers played their part in providing services to the underprivileged and people in need when they participate in this activity. Through this volunteering project in Willing Hearts, sub-committees of Community Service Division in Rotaract Club had a chance to experience the process of preparing food as well as the cleaning process that comes after it. The food is then packaged and sent to community centers accordingly.
To be able to be directly involved in the process of providing aid in the form of meals that are manually prepared, every step of the soup kitchen process was a meaningful one for the members of the sub-committee. Volunteers helped to wash trays and plates, cleaned the kitchen, selected and chopped vegetables, opened canned food, unboxed food items from cartons, refilled ingredients such as salt and sugar, and folded plastic bags and newspapers for food packaging.
The staff of Willing Hearts were grateful to see so many enthusiastic volunteers helping around in the kitchen that day. Most sub-committee members were first-timers, and all had agreed that it was a fulfilling and refreshing experience.
“I am so glad to have come and volunteered for Willing Hearts. It didn’t occur to me that just helping around in the soup kitchen while chatting with the staff there can be so much fun.” – Edwyn Tan, Sub-committee of Community Service Division
About NTU Rotaract Club
Community Service is a division in Rotaract Club of NTU that provides a platform for the Rotaractors to serve the community. We emphasise the respect for the rights of others, based on recognition of worth and dignity of all individuals. On the other hand, we also engage the Rotaractors in life skill, such as deeds of kindness to further enhance their character development and thought process.
