A stone’s throw from Geylang Market lies the Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen (WH). Run completely by different volunteers daily, this Kitchen feeds 6,000 marginalised people in Singapore.
I was drawn to Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen (WH) by a series of radio advertisements that would ring out every morning on Mediacorp 938LIVE. Encouraging citizens to lend a helping hand, I was keen to check it out. I also love cooking and this call definitely appealed.
On my first day at Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen (WH) I had a series of questions;
- What time / day do you need volunteers? Anytime from 5am to 3pm.
- Would I have to give you advanced notice that I was coming to help? No. Just turn up. There is always something you can do.
- What do I do when I arrive at the Kitchen? Walk around and see what help is needed.
Having helped out now on so many occasions I kinda get it. Cooking starts at 4.30am and packing of food prepared after that. By 7.30am food parcels are packed for delivery by suburb.
Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen (WH) needs cars badly. Comfort Cabs arrive daily to do some deliveries. Way to go Comfort!
Individuals like me also arrive to volunteer delivery. Based on your time availability you will be allocated a suburb (big or small) with printouts of addresses – community centers and individual apartments.
Once the noise of the morning is over, attention moves to the back of the kitchen where the covered outdoor area becomes the center for chopping food in preparation for the next day.
Grab a knife and chopping board and decide which team needs your pair of hands most. Like a production line, vegetables that are chopped are sent to the wash area for cleaning.
It is here that I have met many a friend. A call out to companies who want to build their teams. This is a perfect opportunity – at no cost and teams get to build rapport as they do purposeful work!
So far I have done many delivery runs and have chopped baskets of vegetables, prepared cookies for baking and much more.
Many are regular volunteers who know what it means to feed someone in need. Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen (WH) truly attract people who have open hearts to contribute for a greater cause.
Registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs since February 2005 this soup kitchen seems to be growing in size.
Apart from feeding people in need Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen WH also look after their dental, optical, legal and traditional Chinese Medicine treatments.
What better way to spend a few hours in a week or month? You don’t need skills just a willingness to help. Like a drug once you have been to Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen WH you will feel a calling back whenever there is an empty window in your diary.
Community, caring and sharing! Let’s make this our theme in 2020.
Check out the Facebook Page Here for latest announcements
