ABOUT RM2,500 was raised by the Salvation Army Ipoh Children’s Home through the sale of fruit cakes.
The money, raised over Christmas, is to fund the children’s education this year.
Home assistant manager Monnie Chang said a charity initiative selling fruit cakes was initially held during a carnival in Ipoh, Perak, but sales were poor.
“We had more than 40 boxes of cakes left over,” she said of efforts undertaken at the four-day Pinji Carnival at Pasir Pinji last December.
“We then decided to send the cakes to other welfare centres so that everyone could feel the joy of Christmas,” she said in a press statement.
“To cover the cost of the cakes, we took to social media and asked if there were kind-hearted folk willing to sponsor them.
“Within two hours, the cakes were ‘adopted’ and we made arrangements to send the treats to the centres on Christmas Eve.”
The fruit cakes, Chang said, were sent to Handicap Children’s Welfare Home, Yayasan Latihan Insan Istimewa Ipoh and Lovely Home for Old Folks.
“The home also prepared eight sets of rice packs, drinks and fruit cakes for the homeless.
“We also brought along 20 children from the Carol Singing Team to sing Christmas carols at the centres,” she said.
“This activity not only spreads love and care, but also teaches children that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
“Even though the children themselves come from underprivileged backgrounds, they need to learn how to help those in need, so that they can experience the joy of helping others and make this Christmas more meaningful than just waiting for Christmas gifts,” she added.