CHARITY and welfare institutions nationwide are facing financial difficulties following a rise in the cost of living that has left donors dry.

They told The Malaysian Insight that inflation has left them with reduced donations and materials.

Donations to welfare institutions have reduced by half, they said.

Steven Gee Yee Seng of the Yi Xing USJ Old Folks’ Home said that the economic situation has put pressure to the welfare organisations.

“Kind-hearted people who do business are facing challenging times now and some who worked part-time have lost their income.

“For example, people who used to donate three bags of rice now only donate one bag of rice,” Gee said.

The shelter he runs is mainly for the elderly and thus, it does not requite a large supply of food, he said.

“The biggest dilemma at the moment is donations. We need around RM14,000 a month to cover rent, utilities and medicines for the elderly,” he added.

The home in Subang Jaya has 23 elderly residents.

House Of Love, an orphanage in Klang, Selangor, also faces dwindling donations, but its founder said it could continue operating in a cost-effective manner.

DJoseph Pang said the orphanage used to have a sponsor who donated dozens of chickens every month.

However, that has stopped since the price of chicken went up.

“In addition to the lack of meat, other donations, especially Milo and rice, are also down by 30% compared to before.”

Pang said he has shared on Facebook a list of required supplies and he is also asking for donations.

“Although not as robust as before, the response has been quite positive. We can manage to get the items we need but now we have to make several requests to get them,” he said.

Belt tightening

“As for the children of House Of Love, if there is no meat in their meals, we open a few cans of food and the problem is solved.

“But at the same time, we have also about 180 poor families in the Klang Valley region. The value of our food donations to these families has however reduced from RM200 to RM100,” he said.

“We can’t do much as we also have to deal with all kinds of expenses.”

Pang added that the delivery of free meals to the House of Love has also reduced since May.

“Maybe for a week or so, there were occasional lunches and dinners sponsored by good-hearted people, but since May 1, the number of meals sponsored has dropped and we have to try to solve the problem of getting the children’s three meals a day on our own,” Pang said.

He said he is considering hosting fundraisers next year to raise money.

Jully Yap, who has helped to distribute meals to the poor for 13 years, said in recent months, the number of donors has reduced as a result of inflation.

“The cost of a lunch box is RM5 but now the prices of petrol, meat, vegetables, eggs, and oil are starting to become a huge burden,” she said.

On weekdays, Yap and other volunteers visit welfare organisations in Klang Valley to distribute 100 lunch boxes. – May 18, 2022.