But one group of volunteers is determined to send a heartwarming reminder to this community that they, too, have a place in society.
The Ave Maria Soup Kitchen, under Our Lady of Lourdes church, prepares 350 packets of hot food every Saturday for the poor and homeless in Klang and Port Klang.
Founded in 2016, their sole mission was to show mercy to the less fortunate.
“Our pope declared 2016 as the ‘Year of Mercy’. And the women’s ministry suggested a soup kitchen,” shared Patricia Tan, 60, the chief coordinator of Ave Maria Soup Kitchen. Although the idea was mooted by women, it didn’t stop the men from volunteering too.
According to assistant coordinator, Philip Andrew De Silva, the soup kitchen initially distributed 70 packs of food once a week. From 12 volunteers in the early days, there are about 36 today who take turns to prepare the food at a kitchen in the church. Most are senior citizens.
During FMT Lifestyle’s visit, the kitchen was already a hive of activity at 8.30am. The menu of the day was curry chicken, cabbage and rice.
“We ensure that the meat is obtained from a halal supplier. All our volunteers also have taken typhoid injections,” De Silva, 57, said.
Before long, tantalising smells began wafting through the kitchen. Soon the team began deftly packing the food. From 11am onwards, De Silva was out distributing the food at five locations in Klang and Port Klang.
Most of the recipients, De Silva revealed, are aged 50 and above. About 70% of them are Malaysians, and 30% foreigners.
Other volunteers deliver about 100 food packets to two children’s homes and a non-profit organisation that also feeds the poor.
On a monthly basis, the volunteers also provide groceries to 50 hardcore poor families. According to Tan, funds mainly come from the volunteers themselves as well as other church members.
Since feeding the community, the volunteers have seen for themselves just how tough life can sometimes be.
“When you’re homeless, you sleep on the street. Even for locals, the chances of losing your IC are five times higher. Because when you sleep on the street, you only have a bag.
“When you wake up, you may find everything has been stolen. So, we have actually helped people to get their ICs,” said De Silva.
He has also arranged burials for foreigners who are homeless, giving them some sense of dignity in their death.
Inflation and a tough economy have taken a toll on these folks: last year, De Silva shared, the soup kitchen only prepared 300 packs of food.
“We’ve known some of them for years and these are people who cannot move out of the poverty line because many are couples in their 70s. It’s very difficult and they live alone.”
As such, Tan and De Silva said: “Do not judge them.” It is especially tough for those who’ve undergone rehabilitation for substance abuse.
“Many people say they should actually work. The problem is, they cannot go back to their families as they have been ostracised. They do not have a place and can’t get a job because the first thing people want to know is ‘what were you doing previously?’,” said De Silva.
“So, it’s a vicious cycle. What they do is survive by collecting recycled items,” he added.
On that sunny day, as each recipient left clutching a pack of food, hope shone briefly on their faces as they were reminded that they mattered.
Moments like these keep the volunteers going. “They are very grateful because they always comment, ‘our food is hot’,” said Tan of the recipients.
De Silva added: “Of course, it is not easy. But sometimes when I give, I get to talk to them, and I can see that they are so happy. So, that in itself is a big satisfaction: the fact that they’re happy.”
Interested to help? Contact Patricia Tan (012-282 5565) or Philip Andrew De Silva (012-832 9245).