Recycle Wheelchairs

The screws on my mum's wheelchair were rusty and loose. We wanted to buy her a new wheelchair and wondering how to dispose the old one when my resourceful sister told me about this organization.

Their office at a voideck of HDB

Mobility Aids Services & Training Centre
Address:  Blk 254 Tampines Street 21 #01-464 Singapore 521254
Tel: 67839023
Website: http://kampungsenang.org/

Opening hours:
9am to 5.30pm (Monday- Friday)
9am to 1pm (Sat)
Closed on Sunday and public holidays

Mobility Aids Services & Training Centre at Tampines is a charity organization that collects used wheel chairs, commodes, walking aids or hospital beds.  They even offer to collect these equipments from your home (within Singapore).

The room that used living aids are given  facelift

Mobility Aids Services & Training Centre will repair and refurbish the donated mobility aids/ hospital beds so that it is working well before they rent it out. In our aging society, organization like these serves 2 important purposes of defraying the cost of living aids for the needies and recycling to protect our earth's resources.

Many models to chose

We are for recycling. We gladly gave Mobility Aids Services & Training Centre Mum's old wheel chair so that they could revitalize it to be usable again.  They have a huge collection of living aids, some of them are relatively new! We decided to rent one from them instead of spending a few hundred dollars on a new one. The fee for renting a wheelchair is S$80- S$100. There is no time limit to the rental of their equipments. Excellent for folks who are terminally ill or immobile.

Mum's new horse

Mum tried on a few wheel chairs and selected this one which suits her height and lifestyle.

Thank God for organizations like these, they have to receive donations to support their operations. On this season of giving, let's donate to them (via their website) or share this post to create awareness about their services so that more can be blessed.

Giving Receiving

I was invited to help out in a charity project from Mustardseed Outreach Program. It is a non-religious/political welfare group formed by a bunch of compassionate people. The purpose of this project is to friend-friend the folks in a one-room flat at Aljunied. The committee got Angbaos and oranges to prep the residents for the Lunar New Year. We wore red to add to the festive cheer!

Based on feedback, other welfare organization do provide groceries to this block regularly. Most living here are lonely elderly or needy. Some hardly walk out of their home due to illness or pain on their legs. What's in need is emotional support. Everyone need friends to yak with. Hence, Mustardseed Outreach Program's focus is to spend time with them, listen to their stories and show that we care.

We were grouped in threes. My team members were encouraging, jovial and caring. Most of the residents welcomed our friendship! On the average, we spend about 20 min per household. We took down notes so the future volunteers who meet them will have a better picture. As much as possible, we arrange volunteers who are familiar with the residents to follow up. 

My team members and I received Angbao and Kopi-powder from the residents instead.

While we were caught up in the giving and caring mode... A friendly resident passed a bag of potent Vietnamese coffee powder to us. Then another kind elderly loving lady insisted on giving us Angbao! Kinda awkward leh... We are supposed to bless them not receive from them!

We wondered why she gave us Angbao. Maybe we come across as kiddos, or maybe it's the Chinese custom to return kindness. After 5 min of pushing, the gentle lady said "If you don't keep this Angbao, next time don't visit me!" With that, we surrendered.

I am touched by their warmth, positivity and contentment with life. The two of them may not have much, yet they recognise the joy of giving. Why deprive them of this simple joy? It can be hurtful to reject their kindness too. I thanked them for warming my heart this Lunar New Year! Sincerely wish more will have the wisdom to give as well as receive.

PS, the Angbao received was donated to the Mustardseed Outreach Program.