CHARITABLE homes in Penang like Ramakrishna Ashrama, St Nicholas Home, Pusat Jagaan Rumah Sejahtera and Darul Hanan Care Centre are persevering in the midst of the Covid-19 challenges.
When Buletin Mutiara contacted these homes today, most of them shared a common challenge which is their difficulty in maintaining their respective homes due to lack of finance.
“The reimplementation of movement control order (MCO 2.0) has put us in a financial instability but the continuous assistance from the community is what is sustaining us,” said Ramakrishna Ashrama Penang deputy president K. Ramasamy during a phone interview today.
The Ramakrishna Ashrama houses 32 children, aged between five and 22, and it is also the oldest Indian orphanage in Malaysia, starting way back in 1938.
“Penangites in general are kind and generous and I feel blessed having been surrounded by good souls who keep supporting us financially.
“We have been receiving dry food supply and vegetables through our ‘Sponsor a Meal’ programme which we initiated two years ago.
“In this programme, our sponsors would donate to us some money needed to prepare meals for the children. They can either donate RM150 for breakfast and RM300 for either lunch or dinner,” added Ramasamy.
Although the donations are adequate to feed the children, Ramasamy said it would be helpful if the state government could assist them with an annual allocation.
“We receive an allocation from the Jabatan Kesihatan Masyarakat (JKM) annually as the home is registered under them. But that is still not sufficient for us to maintain the home as our monthly expenses are estimated at RM30,000.
“So, we hope that the state government can also consider giving us a similar allocation especially during these trying times,” said Ramasamy.
Ramasamy added that Datok Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh and Jelutong MP R.S.N Rayer had contributed provisions during the first MCO in March last year.
‘I was informed that YB Jagdeep and Rayer would be making another visit to the Ashrama to hand over their contributions.
“Ours is an established orphanage, and we are thankful for the assistance that we have received from various people all this while,” he added.
Donations can be made to, The Ramakrishna Ashrama Penang’s CIMB account (8004085555) or Maybank account (557120055560).
Meanwhile, the committee chairman of Pusat Jagaan Rumah Sejahtera in Bertam, Kepala Batas, Datuk Tan Yong Seng is hopeful that the state government will include some financial assistance for nursing home or old folks’ home for the second batch of Penang People’s Aid Package 3.0.
“Every year, we do receive an annual allocation of RM10,000 from the state government.
“We also organise plenty of donation drives to raise fund for the care centre.
“But due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the reimplementation of the movement control order (MCO 2.0), we cannot organise any donation drive.
“Hence, we are hugely impacted financially to run the place.
“We have two branches, one in Bertam with six residents and three staff members and the other in Permatang Tinggi, Bukit Mertajam with 55 residents and nine staff members.
“And right now, we have to use some of our reserve money to sustain the operating cost of both care centres, totalling RM35,000 per month.
“At the same time, we also do receive some help from good samaritans in terms of the food supplies and we are thankful for that.
“Thus, we really hope that the Penang government will consider our request to channel more allocation especially to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that run senior citizen shelter houses like us,” said Tan during an interview with Buletin Mutiara at the care centre in Bertam today.
Tan said those interested in donating to the care centre can donate via bank transfer to bank account number 3220239321 for Public Bank under the name of Pusat Jagaan Rumah Sejahtera Bertam.
They can also donate via bank transfer to bank account number 3095891717 for Public Bank under the name of Jawatankuasa Rumah Sejahtera
Permatang Tinggi or can call 016-4857956 (Ms Tan) and 04-5887080 for further inquiries.
Siti Sarah Yahaya, the general manager for Darul Hanan Care Centre in Pongsu Seribu, Kepala Batas, said any aid is welcomed from the public to help run the sanctuary for homeless senior citizens during these trying times.
“Currently, we receive some financial assistance from Pusat Zakat Negeri Pulau Pinang (ZPP) to help us in paying the utility bills, buying food supplies, and paying staff salaries and others.
“But, we also welcome any form of assistance from the public since we cannot organise any donation drive during MCO 2.0.
“Those who are keen to donate can call our office at 04-5752884 or go to our official Facebook page (https://m.facebook.com/darulhananpulaupinang/ ) for details,” she said during a phone interview.
It is learnt that there are currently 64 residents at the centre and 37 staff members.
Meanwhile, the general manager for St Nicholas Home, David Chiang, said the organisation which is serving the visually impaired in Malaysia since 1926, was badly affected during the phase one of the MCO.
“During the first MCO, we had a tough time but now after we have launched our donation drive on our website http://www.snh.org.my/, last year in December, things are better now. We are now able to run the administration with the fund raised.
“Apart from that, we have also temporarily closed our bakery and the massage centre as a precautionary measure and have sent our residents who are visually impaired to their respective homes.
“The number of staff needed to be here physically has been reduced as some now work from home. For instance, those who need to attend to the senior citizens residing here are required to come to work,’’ said Chiang.
Story by Riadz Akmal & Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar & Courtesy of Ramakrishna Ashrama , St.Nicholas Home & Darul Hanan Care Centre