Children longing for hugs and outings

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FUN TIME: Children of the Miri Methodist Children’s Home in this file photo enjoying the games with staff of the four distributors of Shell Lubricant Products in Miri. Au (back, centre in long-sleeve shirt).

MIRI: Parents and guardians who sent their children to the Miri Methodist Children’s Home, are urged to show that they love their children dearly.

The home’s acting superintendent Vivian Lo regretted that there are parents who just dumped their children at the home and hardly visited them for years.

“We have only a few very active parents. Although they are not staying in Miri, they make every effort to visit their children at the home and take them out on normal family outings, shopping and picnics.

These children are normal children, needing love and care especially from their parents and other family members. However, sadly some didn’t receive the love they deserve, except the love and care from others including from us, the carers, and members of the public,” revealed Lo.

Lo was met by The Borneo Post recently during a pre-Christmas treat and handing over of donations to the home by four distributors of Shell Lubricant Products in Miri. They were KTS Trading Sdn Bhd, Chop Kiat Siang, Siariang Sdn Bhd and Miricle Miles Sdn Bhd.

Leading the distributors and staff in visiting the home at Jee Foh 9 Road, was Au Tong Sing of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd, who is the general manager, Indirect Channel, Lubricant SEA – South Cluster.

Among others present were Choo Sze Wee, sales team Lead East Malaysia for Shell Timur Sdn Bhd, KTS Trading Sdn Bhd manager Stephen Chiew and the event organizing chairlady Wee Siew Kee (sales manager of Siariang Sdn Berhad

Lo added that the public, especially parents and guardians, are encouraged to visit the children during school holidays when the children are free to be taken out. At other times, they would be busy with the daily school schedules like co-curricular activities and homework.

“All forms of support from the public too are welcomed. Being a non-profit making home, we also continuously need financial support to pay our monthly expenses of RM18,000 per month, including salary for the six staff,” she said.

Currently, the Miri Methodist Children’s Home has a total of 22 school-going children aged 5 to 12 years old. It could take in up to 70 children.

The non-Chinese children are schooling at SK Pujut Corner while the Mandarin-speaking study at SJK North and Chung Hua, Pujut. The secondary students are at SMK Dato Permaisuri.

Miri Methodist Children’s Home, set up in 2004, accepts non-Muslim children, including orphans from low income group or families with many children. All expenses for the children are paid for by the home.

For further details, contact Lo at 085-417391 or come to the home in person during office hours.