Noted activist Gilbert Goh is pioneering a new ‘Adopt a Homeless’ programme, which he has launched today on Chinese New Year.
Goh, who has been helping the homeless as well as the unemployed and underemployed, revealed the news on Facebook as he shared a video of a homeless man he has been helping.
The activist hopes that those interested to “adopt” homeless man or others like him need not provide money or bring them to their homes, they only need to buy such disadvantaged people a good meal whenever possible.
Goh believes that a friendly face will surely cheer the homeless, especially the elderly homeless like the man below, and that such efforts will bring love and warmth into these individuals’ lives:
We took a short video interview with a homeless man during our Chinatown distribution two weeks ago.This elderly man…
Posted by Gilbert Goh on Friday, 16 February 2018
“This elderly man in his 70s spoke about his homeless experience and how he survives with two meals a day from a nearby church. He has being sleeping out in the street for a couple of months.
“When we were out distributing blankets and goody bag, we found him lying down on a bench at the hawker centre. He is very chatty and open.
“I also took him out for a reunion dinner few days ago at a nearby coffeeshop and he ate heartily.
“We are starting a Adopt A Homeless programme and if you want to adopt him as our first homeless elderly, please let us know. We can bring you to meet him for a chat first and your main duty is simply to visit him occasionally and buy him a good meal whenever possible. There is no need to give him cash or bring him back to your home.
“He tends to sit in the Chinatown hawker centre alone the whole day and a occasional friendly face will surely cheer him up alot. Let this homeless elderly experience love and warmth while he lives out his remaining years alone in the street.
“He speaks mostly Mandarin, walks with a hunch back and is independent.
“We will roll out more homeless folks for adoption soon in the near future. Each person can adopt one homeless elderly only.
“Let this new year be a happy year of giving…”