BINTULU: Volunteering to provide assistance for the elderly and the disabled who are living alone, should come from the heart.
This was expressed by one of 13 Home Help Service volunteers here, 60-year-old Zaleha Bujang, when met by New Sarawak Tribune on Tuesday (Oct 31).
She also believed that sincerity is the key motivator for this noble cause.
“As volunteers, we are unpaid. We help in any way we can the elderly and disabled clients.
“It makes us feel at ease and happy to see that they are also happy, as well as helping to relieve stress,” she said at one of the Home Help Service clients’ homes in Kampung Baru Tengah.
Zaleha added that the strong bond similar to a family bond, is developed between the volunteers and their clients.
“When the clients are at ease and happy, the volunteers share in those positive emotions.”
Meanwhile, Welfare Voluntary Organisation (PSK) Bintulu secretary and coordinator Jenny Renit shed light on the invaluable work carried out by these volunteers.
Thirteen volunteers are tasked with providing essential assistance to 44 clients of Home Help Service programme in Bintulu, the programme is under the Social Welfare Department (JKM).
“Each volunteer takes care of four clients, spending about one to two hours at each client’s home.
“Their duties include cleaning the house, offering companionship, purchasing necessities, and accompanying clients to the hospital or clinics,” Jenny said.
All of the volunteers, comprising housewives who love helping others and the youth, are always on call and ready to assist their clients when needed.
Jenny mentioned that volunteers receive an allowance of RM100 per client, along with an additional RM20 for purchasing the clients’ necessities.