We handed out Ramadan gift packs recently. Care2Share : Galloping towards Ramadan, we call it.
Nothing complicated. Pack some dates and bottled honey, add a few essentials, knock on doors, pass them over with a smile. Simple enough on paper.
But anyone who has done this knows….simple does not mean light.
Behind those packs, there were schedules to sort. Volunteers to roster. Weather contingencies to think through because, well, this is Singapore. Partners from Nee Soon South Community Club and Springleaf Residents’ Network came onboard. Staff made sure nothing fell through the cracks. Residents opened their doors, some surprised, some expecting us, all warm.
Ms Lee Hui Ying and Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi joined us that day. I was glad to have them there. Not because of titles. But because their presence said something: this is not about any one group. It is about showing up together.
The timing felt right too. Ramadan approaching, Chinese New Year just around the corner. Two seasons side by side. Felt like the neighbourhood was holding that same spirit.
What Stayed With Me
A few things, actually.
First, preparation matters. Not so things look smooth. But so the people serving can stop worrying about logistics and actually see the person in front of them.
Second, you can feel when trust is there. Between organisations, between volunteers, between residents. No one tripping over credit. Just people moving the same direction.
Third, a gift pack is just a gift pack. But hand it over like it matters, look someone in the eye, smile and it becomes something else. Something that lasts longer than the dates and honey inside.
And fourth, no one carries this alone. Not really. The work belongs to everyone who shows up.
What I Walked Away With
I walked away reminded that mosques are not just for prayer. They are for this too. For knocking on doors. For neighbours. For showing up when it counts.
Grateful is the word. Even if it does not quite cover it.
Ramadan is close now. May these days remind us why we show up and who we do it for.
