Cardboard Collectors Support Network #StrongerTogether
If you see cardboard collectors pushing their wares along the street, please consider approaching them to see if they want or need your help.
Some may have genuine financial or social assistance needs and do not know where to get them; others may have been plying this trade for so long it is part of a lifestyle they are reluctant to give up; and yet some may have problems too personal or too difficult to share/solve.
I have met them in various parts of the city over the years and always tried to reach out to them; random and not sustainable enough. But thanks to the enthusiasm of my young team mates in Central Singapore CDC, we started a "CARDBOARD COLLECTORS ASSIST PROGRAMME" in 2017 to seek them out, and see how we can better understand and support them - part of our CDC's #EnoughTalk series to get some action behind issues people are concerned and talk about.
Over time, the team managed to 'jio' more interested folks from ITE Central and Nanyang Polytechnic. The CDC's usual partners like the MSF Social Service Office at Jalan Besar , Kampong Kapor Family Service Centre , @PEACEConnect, hairstylist volunteers; all walked the extra mile and came alongside.
Till date, the gang has conducted 54 monthly dinner gatherings and befriending sessions in Jalan Besar and Toa Payoh; completed with haircuts and where we can get, NTUC vouchers, gift items etc to bless them. We got to know more than 70 cardboard collectors and referred them to different agencies based on their needs - always respecting their wishes (can’t force anyone anyway..). Everyone has their own story.
The good news is GuoXiong from Mummy Yummy Singapore , a respected volunteer group in social befriending, and a few grassroots volunteers - joined us too. We just had our first zoom meeting yesterday, dividing up the caseload so we can call or contact the uncles/aunties whom we have not physically met recently due to COVID-19.
It is an ongoing journey - never quite finished; and never quite perfect. Yummy Mummy GuoXiong's recent FB sharing gives a glimpse of why it takes more than you'd imagine.
I’m sure there are other groups n people out there helping out. So I know we are not alone.
But here’s how we hope you will chip in:
Next time you see or read about a cardboard collector, do not ignore, do not just snap or video them, do not blame others who never helped - please do consider talking to them, find out if they want or need help, and help if you can, because action always speaks louder.
If it is too tough, you know where to get the lot of us. Or dial the ComCare hotline 1-800-222-0000 (operates till midnight).
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much more,” said Helen Keller.
Stay safe and take care.
Here are some photos on some of the activities we managed to rally together as a community (pre COVID-19):
