(From left)Flex's Regional Marketing and Communications senior director Ho Chu Hor and information technology vice-president Datuk SN Lee handing over the cheque to (fourth from left) Chew and St Nicholas’ board director Kathireen Kalaivani Rajamanickam. With them is Pulau Tikus assemblyman Joshua Woo Sze Zeng (middle). — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
The St Nicholas’ Home Charity Food Carnival is back, featuring food, fun and games all for a good cause.
Offering a wide array of scrumptious Penang street food, a jumble sale, mini petting zoo, traditional handicraft, live music by in-house talents, carnival games and more, the annual event on Aug 3 is going to be abuzz with activity.
The carnival is aimed at raising RM150,000 help sustain the operations of the home that provides its services completely free.
Established as an orphanage in 1926, the home has since grown to become a fully residential training centre.
Its general manager Carmen Chew said sales of coupons for the carnival were slower than expected.
“So far, we have only sold RM45,180 worth of coupons.
“Our target is RM150,000 and we hope that we will reach it before the date of the event.
“Our mission is to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
“We do this by providing them with free education, vocational training and job opportunities,” she said during a press conference at the home on Jalan Bagan Jermal in George Town.
Chew said funds raised would support the home’s Early Intervention, Deaf-Blind and Multi-Handicapped programmes, Braille Production Unit, social care, Senior Citizen Centre, Basketry Training Centre as well as other expenses.
“The money will also fund our numerous centres including the Skill Development Centre, Massage Training Centre, IT Training Centre, Low Vision Centre, Pastry Training Centre, Wellness Centre, St Nicholas’ Home Cafe and other expenses.
“Our monthly expenses are RM250,000 including salaries for 45 staff comprising 30 teachers and 15 caregivers, administrative staff and helpers,” she said.
While they run in-house early intervention activities to cater to children, the home’s teachers also have to go even to Kedah and Perlis as many children there are unable to come to the home in Penang.
“This does incur additional expenses as we have to pay for our teachers to drive over weekly,” said Chew.
“We do not charge our residents at all and are completely reliant on public donations,” she added.
The home currently has 82 residents ranging from four to 87 years old.
“In a year, we need around RM3.6mil to operate, with additional expenses like outings for the residents,” Chew highlighted.
“If we cannot raise the funds, then we try and cut costs whenever possible,” she said.
She hopes that many people will visit the carnival and enjoy themselves while supporting a good cause.
“We will have 67 stalls set up on our premises.
“There will even be live music performances by our residents who have learnt how to play the ukulele and sing as well.
“This is important to us as apart from educating and teaching them skills, we want to unearth their talents too.”
Chew said the carnival would feature myriad food choices, including vegetarian fare.
“All the stalls are sponsored.
“So, we do not need to pay them and the proceeds from the sales of coupons will go to the home,” she said.
During the press conference, platinum sponsor Flextronics Penang, who is funding the halal stalls, handed over a mock cheque of RM15,000.
The carnival will be held at the Persiaran Midlands entrance of the home from 9am to 2pm on Aug 3.
Coupons come in booklets at RM20 each.
These can be purchased at the home from Monday to Friday (8.30am to 5.30pm) or at the carnival.
For details, call 04-229 0800.
