The Star/Asia News Network
Saturday, Dec 22, 2012
PETALING JAYA: 'Tis the season for giving, but many charity homes are just not getting enough.
Traditionally, Malaysians have been known to be more charitable during the festive seasons but this year, it seems that the giving has trickled down.
The managements of many homes, orphanages and shelters are worried by the thinner spread of financial kindness.
While the contributions may be enough for now, there is much anxiety that there will be many "dry", non-festive, months ahead.
Donations during the festive seasons, especially during Christmas and Chinese New Year, make up about 80% of the income for most homes.
The money received is generally sufficient for the homes to stay afloat for the entire year.
The Lighthouse Children Welfare Home Association, which looks after 36 underprivileged children, is among the charities in dire straits.
The home needs at least RM25,000 monthly but has not received a single sen so far this year.
"People used to give generously during this period, we have even received as much as RM10,000.
"But for some reason, there has been none so far," said Jacinta Stevens, who runs the home.
The Divine Mercy Boys' Home in Kepong, which has 15 boys aged between seven and 14 and relies mainly on public support, is another shelter facing financial woes.
Its management committee chairman Peter Moses said contributions had dropped by 20% this year.
"December is the month when we get a lot more. However, we have only received about RM5,000 compared with RM9,000 last year.
"We can go through December and January, but we're worried about February onwards," he said, adding that the home needed about RM11,000 a month, including for utility bills and salaries of five workers.
Moses is worried that there may not be enough money to pay for the boys' bus fares, tuition fees, utility bills, clothes and schoolbooks.
Albert Ong, the founder of the Good Samaritan Home, noticed that donations during Christmas had declined over the years.
"This year it has dropped by about 20%. People prefer to contribute gifts instead of money," he said.
He said the home with 25 schoolchildren needed contributions for the new school term in January to pay for exercise books, school fees and uniforms.
In Klang, Christmas celebrations for underprivileged boys at St Vincent De Paul Home have been scaled down.
"Contributions dwindled by 30% this year," said one of the administrators. "We have 13 children under our care but we have to manage with RM5,000 a month. There have been times when contributions were so low that we have to pay from our own pockets to cover expenses."
Lee Ching Mun, the co-founder of House of Joy, a non-profit organisation that runs 13 homes and training centres for orphans and disabled children, said the toughest times were the middle of the year.
"Traditionally, we get a lot of contributions during festive periods," he said. "But between April and August, when there isn't any festive occasion, funds dry up and we have no choice but to cut down on operating expenses," he added.
