OrangeTee & Tie, Singapore’s third largest real estate agency, has continued its efforts to support senior citizens through its Love For Senior Citizens CSR initiative.
On August 15, thirteen volunteers arrived at OrangeTee’s headquarters before 9am, to pack Care Packs for distribution to the seniors.
The Care Packs included essential food items like Milo drinks, biscuits, coffee powder, canned food, and instant noodles. The volunteers then set off at 10.30am to distribute the Care Packs to 45 households living mostly at Toa Payoh and Aljunied, as well as at Paya Lebar, Bishan, Bendemeer and West Coast.
The care pack distribution was well received by the seniors, including Mdm Tan Hong Huay (pictured in first picture) who has participated in many past events. Mdm Tan was pleased to see the volunteers, and said she was looking forward to the next event.
Mdm Soh Ah Kuan (pictured above) and her husband – Mr Ooi – have been participants of the Love For Senior Citizens charity for years. She loves and enjoys the program and says she has been able to learn different types of exercises through the programmes, and enjoys the opportunity to interact with new people.
The volunteers themselves found the distribution very fulfilling. Max Ang decided to participate in the event because he wanted to be able to do his part to help, no matter how tiring it was. “When I saw the seniors in good health and good spirits, it made me feel the whole event was very worth it.”
Long-time volunteer Nancy Yoong has been helping the Love For Senior Citizens charity since 2008, and also volunteers weekly with NCSS. “I love working with the elderly. They are always glad to see us and appreciate everything we do for them,” says Yoong. “Seeing the smiles on their faces is the most rewarding for me.”
OrangeTee & Tie has adopted the Love For Senior Citizens initiative for the past 3 years, organising 5 events per year – typically during major holiday celebrations including Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day, and Christmas.
While a number of their planned events were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, OrangeTee has adapted its activities around the new restrictions, resulting in such care pack distribution events in order to remain in touch with the seniors, while maintaining safe distancing requirements.
Carollyn Ong, the main organiser of the event, says OrangeTee & Tie is committed to continue its outreach efforts indefinitely, especially during tougher economic conditions, because that is when help is needed most by this group of low income seniors.