Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat
Please do put a penny in the old man's hat
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God bless you!
But Christmas doesn’t all have to be about presents. And, whether we believe in religion or not, the festive season is often a time of joy, kindness and giving thanks. We are thankful for our good health, our education and careers and, for some of us, a safe place to raise our children. We are thankful for our childhood memories of Christmas, and for being able to establish new traditions with our own friends and family.
Wrap up gifts and help raise money
LoveFAD, a university student-led non profit organisation, is looking for volunteers like you to help provide gift-wrapping services at different shopping malls across Singapore. The funds raised will go towards their chosen charities of Home Nursing Foundation and Singapore Red Cross. By giving some of your time to LoveFAD this Christmas, you could do your bit for charity, make your Christmas more meaningful, and get into the festive cheer by wrapping up gifts.
Fighting the Christmas blues
If you feel that you want to take measures to cope with your holiday blues then Bright Vision Hospital is looking for volunteers to spend time with patients. Bright Vision Hospital is a community hospital that provides intermediate and long-term care to the elderly, sick and needy in Singapore. Volunteers are an integral part of a patient’s journey to recovery and help to bring joy and delight to their lives. Tapping into this compassion and generosity of spirit as a volunteer, could help you to focus on the needs of others. It could also be an opportunity to do something different and to enrich your life.
Thanking you for your support
Your care has helped to improve the welfare of Singapore’s stray and abandoned dogs. Your enthusiasm and life experience have taught children about taking chances and reaching for the stars. Your teaching-English skills have helped foreign domestic workers to communicate more confidently and improve their life experiences. Your strength has helped to provide therapeutic and rehabilitative horse-riding therapy for people with disabilities. Your time has helped to empower underprivileged women to build their confidence and find employment.
These are just a handful of the achievements that you, the volunteer expat community, have made over the last twelve months. Thank you. Your time and your skills have made and continue to make an impact to the community as a whole.
To echo the words of Tiny Tim Cratchit, God bless us, every one!
If you want to explore volunteer opportunities over the Christmas period or in the New Year, take a look at Expatgiving.
Author
Emma Nobes