Kampar Church feeds the poor

The spirit of volunteerism runs strong amongst the parishioners of the Sacred Heart Church here.

May 02, 2016

KAMPAR (Herald Malaysia): The spirit of volunteerism runs strong amongst the parishioners of the Sacred Heart Church here.

During the Year of Mercy, many parishioners helped set up the soup kitchen, migrant ministry, learning centre for underprivileged children and even worked in the gardens.

The soup kitchen, which started Jan 16, is the brainchild of parish priest Fr Aloysius Tan, who helped to cook the very first soup meal.

He found many poor people who went hungry. Now, the soup kitchen, which spends about RM350 each time for ingredients, (not including rice and oil), plans to go to its second stage of installing an industrial size freezer so it can stock up more food.

The soup kitchen has now gained speed and each of the eight BECs, plus Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) lecturers and students, catechetical groups, as well as groups from other parishes, help take turns to cook dinner for 180-200 people every Saturday. About 80 percent of those coming for meals are the urban poor, mainly Chinese senior citizens, followed by the Orang Asli and Indians.

Infant Jesus Sister Amy Sam is in charge of the soup kitchen and heads the migrant ministry. Foor preparation is from 2.00 pm till 5.00pm. It is then packed and taken to the market area where long lines of people wait patiently, rain or shine. It’s a sight that will touch anyone who has never seen a soup kitchen in action.

Anyone can come for a meal at the soup kitchen. No questions are asked and a friendly welcome is given to all. Many of those who come are poor, homeless or have physical, social or mental issues. It is important for the servers to make sure the meals are wholesome and give the recipients the calories they need.

Those who serve are friendly and come with good hearts to help.

An Orang Asli mother, Ani, brought her daughters, 11 and 3-years old, in the rain, to get the food for themselves and also for her sick husband. “We want to increase the frequency of the meals, and start soup kitchens in other places too. We also would like a permanent place. It’s one way of staying connected with the community,” said Fr Tan.

However, this depends on sponsors. The soup kitchen’s expansion and more meals depend on the budget the parish has for each month.

The soup kitchen is already well known, not only to the urban poor, but to the Kampar market traders who offer discounts when they recognise the soup kitchen helpers and the church van. Other sponsors have also come in to donate after learning about the soup kitchen.

Even though some people come in cars or motorbikes to take the food, it is all about bringing attention to the the hunger needs of the community. In the end, the focus is on serving the needs of the poor. Those who can afford a meal may want to join in the service themselves.

“They gather together with the poor and their eyes are opened to the needs of others.

“It’s a small way to let others know about the presence of God and the church here,” Fr Tan said.

Sr Amy said many of the older urban poor are poor by nature of their circumstances – some are abandoned by their children, or left to fend for themselves.

Since the parish wants to continue the soup kitchen even after the Year of Mercy, it is important for more people to come and volunteer in different areas.

“The BECs have told me that, since coming in to serve at the soup kitchen, they have begun really talking to each other and building up relationships,” she said.

Many miraculous stories have emerged from the soup kitchen. The Catholic UTAR lecturers, who volunteered, brought along their non-Catholic friends to help and they were so touched that they want to come again.

One 21-year-old youth called Fr Tan to donate his birthday money to the soup kitchen and asked if he and his friends could help.

Housewife, A. Christine, who helps open the church’s Door of Mercy every morning at 7.00 am and closes it at 9.00pm at night, now helps to serve food. She brings her daughter, Faustina Andrew, 13, to the church grounds after school, and both of them help sweep up and burn the leaves in the parish grounds and water the plants.

“I noticed the parish getting very untidy, with leaves unswept, so I try to help a bit,” she said.

Asked if she felt it would interfere with her school homework, she said: “I don't mind, I like doing it for Jesus.”

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