Finding Joy
I came to ease their loneliness but found my own heart filled
In a bustling Toa Payoh multi-purpose hall, a weekly gathering gives seniors exercise, a hot meal and – for one 80-year-old volunteer – a place to truly belong.
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As time passes, seniors see their social circle shrinking. Weekly activities with friends and sharing a meal give them something to look forward to.
ST ILLUSTRATION: MANNY FRANCISCO
Yap Swi Neo
In the multi-purpose hall in Toa Payoh, the volunteers – more than 50 of us – scurry about, arranging chairs and decorating the low stage for the day’s event. We are commemorating Racial Harmony Day – and many of us are decked out in national costumes to add to the spirit of the theme.
The music director tests the audio and dance and song pieces for the day. At the registration desk, another volunteer sits with a clipboard, poised to tick off attendance for the day. An exercise instructor is ready to go.
