[COVID-19 Stories] Our Giving Spirit
By: National Library Singapore
Tags: Kindness, Philanthropy, Altruism, Volunteerism, Charity

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed our lives and turned our priorities upside down. While scientists spent most of 2020 trying to pin down how the virus worked and create a vaccine to eradicate it, we were repeatedly told that frequent hand washing and practising good hygiene, wearing masks as well as social distancing would get us through this pandemic safely.

During these challenging times, it is heartening to see the human spirit shine through to take care of others. Many have volunteered their time and energy to distribute food and clothing. When masks were in short supply, contributor Wendy Yuen joined initiatives such as Masks Sewn with Love, which made 50,000 face masks to distribute to vulnerable groups.¹

Colourful masks sewn by Wendy Yuen as part of the Masks Sewn With Love initiative. (Wendy Yuen’s contribution, National Library, Singapore, 2020)

Oliver Guo and his wife Amanda Chua similarly went the extra mile to help the hearing impaired. Oliver notes that “those who rely on lip-reading or sign language to communicate are often cut off from their source of communication when people around them don face masks.” The couple sewed and donated transparent masks so that communication with the hearing impaired would still be possible.

Oliver and Amanda sewing reusable transparent smile masks at home. The material was contributed by CYC Tailor. (Oliver Guo and Amanda Chua’s contribution, National Library, Singapore, 2020)

Oliver modelling a transparent smile mask. (Oliver Guo and Amanda Chua’s contribution, National Library, Singapore, 2020)

In addition to making masks, volunteers have also provided social support to vulnerable groups. Be Kind SG’s outreach to the residents of THK Home for Disabled @ Sembawang moved online in April 2020, where volunteers continued to engage residents through activities such as upper body exercises, birthday celebrations and games of Pictionary.

Be Kind SG volunteers interacting with residents from THK Home for Disabled @ Sembawang via Zoom. (Sherry Soon’s contribution, National Library, Singapore, 2020)

Singaporeans also extended their helping hands to those beyond our shores. When Malaysia’s Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented on 18 March,² students at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) UTown hostel donated meals from their meal plan to the hostel’s cleaning staff from Malaysia who were unable to return home. Contributor Max Ang hoped that these gifts of cheer would help them “offset some of the higher costs of living” as they remained in Singapore to work.

Snacks for NUS UTown hostel workers. (Max Ang’s contribution, National Library, Singapore, 2020)

Pre-packed meal sets for NUS UTown hostel workers. (Max Ang’s contribution, National Library, Singapore, 2020)

Singapore is not a stranger to kindness. During the SARS epidemic in 2003, volunteers had also been enthusiastic in joining donation drives and visiting homes for the aged to distribute food and comfort. In an eerie harbinger of 2020, then mayor of South-East district, Othman bin Haron Eusofe noted that taking one’s own temperature before leaving the house and “making sure you are physically okay” are acts of kindness that can help curb the spread of disease.³

Just as we have to remember our masks and sanitisers before we leave the house, let us always keep the less fortunate in mind and volunteer our time and resources when and where we can. After all, the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable.