HELPING HANDS

The Circuit Breaker has reminded us all that we need to help one another to make it through life, not just during a pandemic, but every day. There are lots of wonderful organisations that need your help. Among them is the Society of St Vincent de Paul, which works with some of Singapore’s neediest.

Name: Matthew Bao Do Nationality: Australian Volunteers at: Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP), Singapore

What’s the mission of the SSVP?

To help poor people improve their lives and make them self-sufficient and independent. Mostly, it’s just to be there for them when they need your help.

What do you do there as a volunteer?

• Visit needy families and “FINs” (Friends-in-Need, as the beneficiaries are referred to), giving out cash aid and rations.

• Provide a helping hand for the elderly by fixing leaky pipes and changing broken lights in their homes.

• Visit St Joseph’s Home to help with the Pushcart Project, which allows the elderly to have the experience of shopping in their nursing home.

• Distribute fresh fruits, toiletries, snacks and donated clothes to migrant workers in Little India.

• Visit disadvantaged girls at the Good Shepard’s Centre for Kids Project, where we help with fun activities and monthly outings including attending career talks, doing arts and crafts, visiting radio stations, gardening, cooking, taking self-defence classes, singing karaoke and ice skating.

Why did you choose SSVP to donate your time to?

I found it to be a good organisation with long-term commitments to help the poor and the disadvantaged.

What do you get out of volunteering for this place?

Volunteering is a way for me to give back to the community, knowing that I can make an impact with poor people and with families in need. I know what it’s like to have nothing – and, as an old saying goes, “It’s better to give than to receive”.

How can somebody get involved? What kind of help do they need?

Anyone can get involved with the SSVP. They just need your kindness, your compassion and your time.