KUCHING: People from all walks of life jam-packed the Sarawak Cheshire Home here to patronise its annual fund raising charity sales yesterday.
The huge crowd gave Sarawak Cheshire president Home Datuk Seri Ang Lai Soon much hope in meeting the home’s targetted sales of RM200, 000.
“We have RM150,000 worth of coupons already taken and we are expecting another RM40,000 or RM50,000 from cash sales,” he said.
Thanking Sarawakians, especially city folk, for their continuous support, Ang said charity remains the strength of multi-racial and multi-religious Sarawakians.
Ang went on to remind donors who paid in cash to also ask for receipts.
More than 50 stalls selling food and drinks, potted plants, handicrafts and many more were put up at the Home’s premises to help raise fund to run the home.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Hakka Community Association secretary general Violet Yong said the association has been actively participating in the charity sales.
“It is one of our main activities, we would like to contribute as much as we can to help the needy and the less fortunate,” she said.
She said it was good to see members of the public coming to support the programme every year.
Yong and her other members were selling food items such as eggs, almond cookies, vegetarian dumpling, for which they managed to collect over RM1,000 in sales.
For Stephen Nanang Charles, 50, it was the third year for him and his family to join the charity sales.
“It is always nice to take part in this kind of charity event, because the purpose is to help those in need, and the Cheshire Home is in dire need of fund for maintenance of the building and for upkeep of the residents,” he said.
Stephen who sold nasi lemak at the charity fair said he and his family prepared the delicacy using their own expenses and contributions from friends.
“The response is overwhelming; our food was sold out within less than two hours. My family and I are happy we can help Cheshire Home in the fund-raising programme,” he said.
Lua Ting, 25, from Bahai Office for Advancement of Women, said the Bahai community here was participating in the charity sale as it was a good platform for them to help the needy.
“The items that we sell here are contributions from our Bahai friends. And we also help by our local community, where we buy the items such as vegetables from them and sell it here,” she said.
For 23-year-old student Brian Chin from Executive College, it was his first time participating in the charity activity at the invitation of his college mates.
“As a younger generation, it is good for us to join this kind of activities, as it will help mould us to be a more caring and loving person.”
