Home when there's nowhere else

The Star

5 days ago

SIBU: At 74, Dorothy Fong spends most of her days in a wheelchair.
She lost her mobility in a tragic accident eight years ago while cycling to work.
Since then, life has been a steep descent – alone, jobless and unable to care for herself.
'I had no one else to rely on,' said Fong, who was given away by her parents when she was just eight months old.
She eventually found refuge at the Sibu Benevolent Society Care Centre, a licensed charitable home that provides shelter to elderly people who have been abandoned or have no family.
Fong is one of 28 residents currently living at the home in Jalan Teng Chin Hua.
The residents – 15 women and 13 men, aged between 60 and 80 – come from mostly middle-­income backgrounds.
Built on community: Robert (second from left) and his team collecting donations at the Sibu Central Market.
Their former occupations vary from labourers, general workers and hawkers to a martial arts teacher and most recently, a woman who used to sell cendol.
'We are a home of last resort. Most of our residents either have no family or were abandoned.
'We're licensed to take in 80 people but we can only afford to house 30 due to budget constraints,' said Robert Chew, the vice-chairman of the home.
Before accepting a new resident, the society conducts a thorough screening process.
'They must be able to take care of themselves in basic ways, like eating and moving around.
'We currently have three residents who need to be spoon-fed by our caregivers.
'Unfortunately, we cannot accept those with dementia or Parkinson's disease because we don't have the means for full-time healthcare staff,' Robert said.
While the centre does accept some individuals referred by family members or friends, those with family support are generally not prioritised.
'If they do have people who bring them in, we request a minimal contribution of around RM1,000 a month.
'For those who really cannot afford any contribution, we will still accept them,' he added.
The home operates without financial grants from the state or federal governments.
Instead, it relies entirely on public donations to stay afloat.
Every Sunday morning, Robert and a team of about 20 volunteers head to the Sibu Central Market to collect food donations from gene­rous hawkers – a tradition that has spanned three generations of his family.
As the flag bearer, he rings a copper bell for about half an hour, starting at 8am. So far, only three people have held the responsibility.
The first was the late Chew Giok Lin and then his son, the late Chew Peng Ann, followed by Peng Ann's son Robert.
Like his elders, Robert would lead two teams of 20 volunteers – one group to the dry section and the other to the wet section of the market where hawkers would make donations.
The donated perishables are usually enough to feed the residents for a week.
'My grandfather started the initiative in the 1950s at the now demolished old wet market in Jalan Market.
'My father continued this tradition from 1984 to 2004. Now I am carrying it on,' Robert said.
The practice remains a pillar of the home's operations.
'When market traders see us, they give us vegetables, meat, fish and rice.
'During festive seasons, people also stop by to make donations either in cash or items. The community has kept us going,' he said.
Volunteers from a church also help with cleaning the premises.
Once a month, a medical team from the Health Department will conduct a health screening for the residents.
But the road ahead is not without challenges.
The home employs 10 full-time staff, including nurses, caregivers, administrative workers and a cook.
'With rising costs, we are stretched thin. Without people donating perishable items, we will have to spend between RM30,000 and RM40,000 a month to feed the residents. That is a big sum which we cannot afford,' Robert added.
The Sibu Benevolent Society was first established in 1945 by the British colonial government and initially operated out of an army barracks in Jalan Bukit Lima.
In 1992, it moved to its current premises.
For Fong and many others like her, the home represents more than a shelter – it's a second chance at dignity and care in the final chapter of their lives.
'I'm just grateful I'm not alone anymore,' she said.
Meanwhile, the SGHA returns for the 11th edition to honour everyday Malaysians whose compassion and selflessness have made a lasting impact on others.
With McDonald's Malaysia as the new strategic partner, SGHA is poised to broaden its reach and deepen its impact nationwide.
This year also marks the debut of the McDonald's Caring Hearts Award – a special recognition honouring individuals or grassroots groups whose heartfelt acts of kindness have uplifted lives in profound and lasting ways.
Since its inception in 2015, SGHA has honoured over 100 individuals and organisations whose efforts have inspired action, transformed lives and strengthened communities nationwide.