Sick and elderly Chang needs public help to get by
KUCHING: Elderly, sick and immobile Chang Lim Chai, 84, needs help from the public to get by.
He suffered a stroke five years ago rendering him unable to walk, talk or feed himself. He also has diabetes and high blood pressure. His wife, Pungut, 67, takes care of him most of the time as their only son who works at an electrical shop earns only RM800 a month.
Though he does receive monthly assistance of RM200 from the Welfare Department, it is not enough to pay for his diapers and special milk ( Nutren Diabetik)..
“He uses size ‘ L’ diapers daily and one 450g tin of the special milk costs over RM50.
“The family is also living in fear as a landslide occurred at their backyard last Chinese New Year. The land behind their house starts collapsing and they do not have the means to repair it. The house is built near a hill,” said Hope Place founder Kelvin Wan, who visited the family recently.
Pungut uses zinc roofing sheets to cover the soil to slow down the the land from sliding further.
Wan hoped that kind-hearted individuals would be willing to sponsor the adult diapers and the milk as Hope Place does not have the milk in stock.
Hope Place is an non-government organisation that visits the poor and less fortunate families to contribute some essential food items like rice, cooking oil, sugar, salt, biscuits, and noodles.
Many of these families or individuals barely earn enough to get through the month, hence many are grateful with the assistance of these basic necessities delivered to them. For families with children with special needs, or with elderly or disabled people, milk powder, oat and diapers are also provided.
Hope Place carries out aid deliveries once every two months because of the many families on their list, which is now more than 150 families.
For more information on how you can help, Hope Place can be reached at 013- 5672775 from 8.30am-noon and 2pm- 5pm from Mondays to Fridays.
Those interested to donate can directly bank-in to Maybank account 5112- 8900-1160 (Persatuan Kebajikan Harapan Kuching). Those interested to make a donation are advised to request for a receipt from the staff at Hope Place.