JOHOR BARU: With two days to go to the festival of lights, some 150 needy families, including senior citizens in Kangkar Pulai and Tun Aminah, were treated to a last-minute Deepavali cheer.
The beneficiaries were mostly estate, plantation and odd-job workers.
Aware of their sorry plight, a non-governmental organisation, Glocal Helping Hands (GHH) joined hands with Erika Oktora and Repton International School (RIS) to help struggling families.
GHH chairman and founder Poonam Singh said RIS students from various countries, upon learning the plight of the needy, joined hands with GHH and Erika to donate to the charitable cause.
The first aid distribution was done at the Sri Maha Sivagama Suntari Amman Alayam temple in Kangkar Pulai where 50 families were recipients of daily necessities like rice, oil, milk, flour, sugar noodles, biscuits, tea and coffee.
The other areas where the distribution of groceries was carried out were Taman Putri, Kulai and Taman Tun Aminah, Skudai.
Poonam said the distribution was aimed at easing the financial burden of these families and making it easier for them to celebrate Deepavali.
"It is not an easy thing to continue helping the underprivileged, especially those celebrating Deepavali for so many years.
"While we celebrate the festival, we must also not forget the less fortunate," she said.
Poonam said they were under no illusion that what they provided to these recipients would make a big difference in their lives.
"It's just a little help but even something small can go a long way," she said.
Among the recipients was Ramu Sunderaju, 53, who thanked GHH for the gesture.
"We need not spend so much on buying groceries as what was given can last for two months.
"It is kind of GHH to remember us during the festive season," he said.
Housewife Padminideni Nagan, 66, said the groceries would go a long way in making her children happy this Deepavali.
"I am a low-income person. So with these, we can prepare Deepavali food and pastries. The food in the hamper is useful," she added.
From the time of the Movement Control Order was imposed last year, GHH has helped 1,000 families with groceries and rations.
GHH, an expatriate wives' non-governmental organisation in the state capital city, banded together five years ago to do charity work.
