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JEYARANI Arumugam smiled broadly as she tucked into
her Chinese lunch while enjoying the various performances and activities lined
up at the event.
"My favorite dish was the wan tan noodles," said the 47-year-old from Persatuan
Kebajikan Grace.
"I am also very happy I can celebrate the Mooncake festival with my Chinese
friends.''
Jeyarani was one of the 400 elderly folks from 18 old folk homes in the Klang
Valley who were invited to the fifth Mid-Autumn Festival Lunch organized by the
Nanyang Press Foundation, where Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho
was the guest of honor. |
 The other homes included Cheshire Home, Joyhaven Home, Lovely Nursing Home,
Rumah Charis, Sri Sayang Welfare Home, Rumah Wargaemas Nacscom, Rumah
Victory and Persatuan Kebajikan Ci Hang Cempaka.
"Festivities like the Mid-Autumn Festival are often a time for us to
celebrate with our families, but what about the old folks?" said Nanyang
Press Foundation executive director Ann Woo.
"A festivity is a time for sharing and caring and we are sharing a cultural
event with the old folks today - people who wouldn't ordinarily be able to
celebrate the occasion."
The foundation organises two cultural events a year with the elderly folks
¨C the Mid-Autumn Festival and Winter Solstice Festival.
"The message that we want to send to them is that they are remembered and
loved, and very much part of our community," said Woo.
V Garden Restaurant sponsored the lunch while Tai Thong Group of
Restaurants, Overseas Sdn Bhd and Lian Bee Confectionery Sdn Bhd sponsored
several boxes of mooncakes for each home.
Thong Thye Siang (Kelang) Sdn Bhd chairman Lim Pei Tiam and managing
director Lim Pay Kaon distributed ang pows to each elderly folk on behalf of
the company, which also sponsored the cash prizes for the event's lucky
draw.
Nanyang Press Foundation trustee member Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam also
distributed ang pows to the elderly folk.
Tan Lean Dee, 88, and Son Kwai Fong, 60, a mother and son pair from Ti
Ratana Welfare Society Elderly Home, both said they had a good time.
"I liked the fish maw soup and I think the best part was that both of us got
an ang pow each during the lucky draw," said Tan.
"Being invited to an event like this makes me feel appreciated," said Son,
adding that this was his first outing with the home.
Source: The Star Online
Story and photos: Jade Chan
Date: September 21, 2007
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