month ago, The Sunday Times reported that as food prices rose, more people were turning up for free meals at soup kitchens run by religious orders and welfare organisations. These establishments were concerned whether they could cope with the increasing demand. But their worries have eased as more donors have stepped forward to donate cash and food to feed the needy. The Buddhist Lodge, for example, which feeds 1,500 people on weekdays and as many as 6,000 on weekends, a rise of some 40 per cent from January, said offers of rice had doubled in the past two weeks even as prices soared. One donor recently showed up with 900 bottles of cooking oil. Other welfare organisations reported stable or increased donations. Singaporeans are generous when it comes to charity. The annual televised fund-raisers of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and Ren Ci Hospital used to raise millions from viewers before both outfits ran into trouble. Last Sunday, the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society TV charity show received $3.8 million, a good amount in a time of inflation and belt-tightening. We are heartened that as a people, Singaporeans display a consistent generosity of spirit, in good times and bad. But if there is a lesson to be learnt from the NKF and Ren Ci episodes, it is that they should be more discerning about whom they give money to. Hard-luck stories in the media often draw quick donations from members of the public, but some cases have turned out to be less than genuine.
If Singaporeans are generous with their money, they are less so with their time. This is so especially with the better educated ones. Professional people and executive types are understandably strapped for time. But as the older cohorts of baby boomers retire or opt to work part-time, it would be good if the more comfortable among them could help in some form of charity work.
