Appeal for Donation: The Salvation Army Ipoh Launches Caring Hearts 3.0 to Raise RM150,000 for the Underprivileged

Yesterday saw the launch of the Caring Hearts fundraising drive by The Salvation Army Ipoh for the third year running to raise funds for the operation of its services in helping the underprivileged.

Aimed to raise RM150,000, Caring Hearts 3.0 runs till the end of November this year.

Among the many social and community services provided by The Salvation Army Ipoh are residential care for over 50 boys and girls (in a Children’s Home along Jalan Kampar and a Boys Home along Jalan Tambun), residential care for over 30 senior citizens (in a Home for the Aged along Jalan Bersatu), regular monthly food assistance to needy families, and emergency relief in times of crisis and disaster.

The current campaign replaces its annual fund-raising food fair cum Open Day made impossible by the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic hit, the physical Open Day was a popular event with over 100 stalls unfolded each year since 1990 in the month of October.

“During the last two years of the pandemic we have seen our donations being impacted despite an increase for assistance in our centres. Expenses continue to rise no doubt,” highlighted Major Lee Kong Yee, the Chairperson of Caring Hearts 3.0.

Presently, the children residing at the Homes are between 6 to 18 years of age while the elderly residents are between 65 to 94 years of age.

“As long as there are boys and girls and families requiring help, the Homes will always be here – to provide residential care and a loving environment to grow holistically despite their unfortunate circumstance,” Lee stressed.

Meanwhile, its regular monthly food assistance is reaching out to 13 needy families around Perak at the moment.

Tax exemption receipt will be issued for donation of any amount made online or in-person.

Those who would like to lend a helping hand can do so via cash donation, bank transfer (Maybank 5005 1196 0246 – The Salvation Army) or cheque payable to The Salvation Army.

Donors also can channel their contribution via walk-ins at any of the following premises of The Salvation Army Ipoh:

• Children’s Home – 255 Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun (Jalan Kampar), 30250 Ipoh – 05-2549767
• Boys Home – 4367 Jalan Tambun, 31400 Ipoh – 05-5457819
• Home for the Aged – Jalan Bersatu, Jelapang, 30020 Ipoh – 05-5262108
• Community Services – 125 Jalan Taman Star, Wah Keong Park, 31400 Ipoh – 05-5453269
• Family Thrift Store – 26 Jalan Besar, Tambun, 31400 Ipoh – 05-5483314

“We also have donations coming in through postal services where people mail the cheques,” Lee added.

As a simple guide, below are several examples on the impact of donation:

• RM 100 – Will help to provide an individual who has lost his/her income due to unemployment with food provision for a week.
• RM200 – Will help to provide for a disadvantaged family of 4 with basic food provision for a week.
• RM 500 – Will help to provide a child from a broken family with nutritious meals, shelter, education and care for a month in the Homes.
• RM 1000 – Will help to provide for 2 poor elderly people who have no family support with meals, shelter, medicine and care for a month in the Home for the Aged.

The Salvation Army Ipoh can be reached on Whatsapp (017 239 5590) or email (ipoh.children’s.home@smm.salvationarmy.org).

According to the amiable Lee, the team is also looking to organise a smaller-scale Open Day towards the end of the year.

For more updates, check out the Facebook page of The Salvation Army Ipoh: https://www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyIpoh/

by Tan Mei Kuan