My $2 Pledge

By Veron | Posted in Ramblings

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I’m the kind of person who wouldn’t think twice about wading through a dirty swamp. I even arm-wrestled with guys in my younger days. By all standards, I’m probably the most un-girly girl you can find. Being in the company of guy friends... Read more →

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About the Author

Veron Ang is the founder and chief editor of Sparklette. She lives in Singapore and has dined and traveled across the world. She also runs Sparklette Studio, a web design and development firm. If you'd like to connect with her, head on over to the contact page or follow her personal updates on Twitter: @VeronSG.

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67 responses

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pkchukiss
December 9

Hi Veron,
Sorry if my last comment seemed ambiguous; I wasn’t talking about your pledge in general, but rather, to bring up the need for caution when being charitable.
I didn’t mean for you to take it the other way though, but I want to highlight the urgent need to make sure that the middle-men do not squirrel off a portion of donations. Already, it is getting to be a big industry out there, and we don’t want charity to be outsourced, do we?
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Paddy
December 9

For those that like to help out the smaller charities, like to invite everyone to drop by http://wanttotrade.sg where a few of us set it up for those charities (usually not as well known as the bigger cousins) to list the items that they like to have.
It is a platform for the charities to have an online ‘voice’
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py
December 9

What one of my colleagues would do is to keep emptied cans and give those cans to one of the elderly person who regularly collects cans in the neighbourhood. This is probably another way to lend a hand if the elderly person insist not to take money.
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juz_A_gal
December 10

Just thought to share this: there are, indeed, some tissue sellers (particularly those at hawker centres) that come in buses from across the causeway.
My colleague who’s family runs a stall in a hawker centre sees them frequently.
At home, we try to give away our clothes we seldom wear to the maids staying around. Then of course there’re the old newspapers or re-useable items that the cleaners are more than willing to take over. And when they help to do a little extra, we make it a point to “tip” them.
Anyway, I think your movement is very very commendable. More people need to know about this movement.
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BoY
December 10

thought your post was a wonderful reminder of the kind of humanity that we can most certainly afford to dish out every day. glad you’ve been tomorrow-ed too.:)
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Apple
December 11

Kindness begets kindness. Direct giving to the elderly poor if one comes across them is more effective than giving thru organisations.
A great start. Hopefully others will be encouraged to follow.
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weisheng
December 11

Kudos to you Veron, you’ve really got such a beautiful heart. Once in a while I find myself to be in a rather charitable mood as well. making some donations to charity, signing up for a couple of volunteer work with friends and stuff. But this act always seem to be unsustainable. After a short stint at it, it just gets weary and soon I’m another ignorant citizen in the society again. Until something or someone inspires me again, but the cycle just repeats itself and soon I’m lazing arond again.
I guess it takes a truely kind heart to be able to actively involved in philanthropy. Something that when I look at myself, I find missing.
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Joey
December 11

The papers did announce that civil servants will get more. But we don’t know if they mean existing civil servants (unlikely) or newly recruited ones (most probably). And not all civil servants are earning a lot. More than the poor, definitely, but sometimes it’s hard to make ends meet also, especially when you need to repay the CPF loan for your degree. AND you’re looking at yet another debt when you get married and apply for housing loan. >.
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Darren Low
December 12

Because of your love and kindess. The world will be a better place.
Generally, civil servants don’t earn alot. But they are fortunate enough to have a roof over their head and a decently wages to pay off their financial obligaion.
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Joey
December 12

The roof over my head is still not fully paid for even after 12 years. And it doesn’t belong to me. I can’t help wondering whether I’ll be able to have my own roof over my head. And if I do, at what price.
And then there’s having kids. The gahmen has got to be kidding.
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michel
December 19

Veron
I am impressed and have put a link of your posting in my blog to encourage more people to adopt the pledge.
Michael
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Veron
December 19

:)
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Daphne
December 21

i stumbled upon ur blog while searching for the “sun with moon” cafe.
i must say this is a wonderful blog. aesthetically pleasing, and intellectually stimulating. what’s not to like?
wrt this post, i just wanna share my experience. i used to live in the hostel at NTU. every morning before 7am, there would be an irritating ‘crunching’ sound outside my window. i would cover my head with the pillow, or put on my mp3 player so i could savour my last 45 minutes of sleep before i had to go to school.
one morning, though, i woke up early to prepare for my presentation. and when the crunching sounds started, i went to the window, and looked out, curious what the sound was – it never occured to me to get out of bed to investigate it.
to my surprise, i saw our resident cleaning lady, standing there with a small mound of alumninium cans, flattening them (vertically) and putting them into a bag. i realised she was collecting cans for recycling, which i know would probably pay very little. she was pushing 65 then, n still cleaning and collecting cans.
that morning onwards, i saved every can that i or my roommate drank out of (n we drink alot of these beverages, i tell you) and when the crunching sounds began each morning, i would get out of bed for a while, and go out to pass the cans to the auntie. i asked my hostel mates to leave their cans outside their doors too, for the auntie.
i’m happy to say that i saw some cans outside doors on some mornings or late at night. :)
a little help can go a long way. besides. if we saved our cans and put them outside our room doors, the auntie wouldn’t have to dig thru smelly rubbish.
anyway, i salute u for taking this step to create more awareness about the plight of our impoverished elderly.
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Veron
December 21

Hi Daphne,
I’m glad you and your hostel mates have found ways to help others.
Previously one of the people who left comments said that he helps by leaving newspapers outside his front door for someone to sell them later on. I had thought that that wasn’t exactly very helpful, since at the end of the day, it still wouldn’t be much.
But now I realise I have missed the point.
It’s important for the old and needy to know that they are not invisible to us. By helping them in any small way, they know then that they are not ignored.
A little kindness and a little love means a lot to everyone.
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JuztAsk
December 29

Vernon,
U know ths x’mas was tough. Every x’mas shopping baking making gifts for friends, associates and love ones is special the meaning of ths season for me is Giving is better than received. But ths x’mas as my business fail facing siezure where are my friends where the encouragement that could help me to press on, very realistic but yes the truth I was disappointed and depress but life had to move on ths x’mas I cant put food on the table but somehow make do with what I have. Being happy is your choice to n not depend on your surrounding people. We control our emotion no 1 can make u to if u dont wish to, yes ths x’mas I reflect alot, will pick up 1 at a time and I will not be bitter but I appreciate those that stand by me , my daughter and hubby. Smetime thru setback u know who do the talk and who do the walk with u. Merry Christmas
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LUSHALA
January 2

WELL THERE ARE MANY RICH PEOPLE IN SINGAPORE I LOVE TO CALL SINGAPUR SINGAPURA
YOU KNOW KNOW ONE THING THE WORLD WILL ALWAYS HAVE POOR PEOPLE BECAUSE
LORD WANT TO SEE WHAT RICH PEOPLE WITH THEIR MONEY
THE RICH SPEND THE MONEY UNWISELY THEN ONEDAY THEY ARE ALSO POOR
IMPORTANT FOR GOVERNMENT TO LOOK AFTER THE POOR.
WE DO HAVE IN CANADA POOR THAT ALSO COLLECT CANS AND BOTTLES AND SELL THEM TO MAKE SOME MORE MONEY APART FROM WHAT THE GOVERNMENT GIVES THEM.
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Edmund
January 2

hi Veron!
I totally salute you!! Stand up for Singapore and to pioneers such as yourself who make a stand against poverty and the less well-off in the world. I myself regularly donate spare change to the needy, with $10 not being out of the norm for the old lady collecting recycling materials. Having said that, not only does recycling cans helps the environment, i used to do that too while growing up in Australia. The pay there is SO much better – 5c per can!! 1kg can yields the homeless at least $2.. better than the paltry sum paid by recycling companies in S’pore..
However, there’s an old Chinese proverb; ” catch the fish for a man, feed him once. Teach him to catch fish, feed him for life”.
It’s all good and fine donating spare change to the needy, but how about empowering them and making them more self-sufficient? It is because of this major ‘hole’ in our 1st class society that my company launched the Lifestyle Book. It empowers the needy, charities and non-profit organisations to raise their own funds through the sales of the book. We do not sell the book, but we instead give it free on consignment to the organisations to sell and raise funds, keep the profits. Beats collecting cans for $1.50 eh?
Anyway, i’ll like to get in touch with Benson from the Sunday Times and share with him our motto of “creating opportunities, Touching Lives”. We also have a campaign manager (also from City Harvest) who’s involved in this project and it’ll be great to get your support and your fellow church-member’s as well in this great cause.
Regards
Edmund Ng
Director
Lifestyle Publications
edmund@lifestylebook.com.sg
http://www.lifestylebook.com.sg
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L
January 12

Hi Veron,
I read your blog and deeply touched your kind act.
I was at Chin swee road the other day and saw this old lady sitting by the road side. She was shabbily dressed and dirty. But instead of giving her the money, i went to buy some buns for her.
Nervously putting down the buns for her hoping she would accept it, she screamed at me declining the buns and thus catching the attention of the passbys. I walk away quickly.
I dont know if i have done the right thing or i am just been silly.. or perhaps i should not even have question it myself..
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Edmund
January 12

hello Veron, L
It was a kind gesture with good intentions giving the old lady the buns. However, in the world we live in today, “cash is king”.
It was evident during the Tsunami relief effort when all the major NGO’s and Aid Agencies wanted cash donations rather than physical materials, such as food, blankets, medicine, clothing etc..
Nice to see Veron, this blog & post getting some media coverage from the Flying Dutchman. Indeed, the pen (or keyboard) is mightier than the sword..
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kiat101
January 24

Hi Veron.
Keep It up.
Nice to be able to see such strong emotion from a fellow young Singaporean. U have changed my view of ’spoiled brat’ opinion of this young generation.
First I want to thank your parent. They have done a very good job.
I will forward this blog to as many as friends as possible.
Though I can’t do much but will do my best bits.
It sure beats donating to those big bogus charities.
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