The PJ Old Town Carollers, founded by former La Salle Petaling Jaya schoolmates Neil Harding and Jeffrey D’cruz, continue to bring festive cheer to senior citizens as well as residents of old folks homes and orphanages.
Over three days, the offshoot of the Church of the Assumption PJ choir on Jalan Templer here kept spirits up with popular Christmas carols. They visited a dozen-odd residences in Sections 1 and 4 PJ, USJ 3, Putra Heights, SS12 Subang Jaya, the Daughters of St Paul mission on Jalan Gasing, and Assunta Hospital on Jalan Templer.
“We had great support from our 30-odd church members, relatives, old school friends, and neighbours who jointly helped raise a tidy sum for charities,” said Harding, an insurance consultant.
The 61-year-old said he was particularly moved by non-Christians who invited them to their homes and also contributed financially towards the less fortunate.
Notable choir members included guitarist Louis Samikannu, who encouraged the others to play the piano and percussion while they sang, and Mauritius national Marie Joseph Jean Pierre, president of the Assumption Church’s St Vincent de Paul Society.
At one of the residences, the carollers enjoyed a fellowship potluck after spreading cheer through song.
Harding said he and D’cruz had come up with the idea to form the group after noticing many senior citizens in their neighbourhood living in undecorated homes, seemingly lonely and neglected.
“We decided something had to be done to bring some joy to them. We initially raised RM2,000 and gifts from donors to distribute at orphanages, followed by carolling around the neighbourhood,” he recalled.
The carollers started at Harding’s, D’cruz’s, and their relatives’ homes. “We then moved on to sing at the homes of six lonely senior citizens. By then, word had spread around the neighbourhood, and we eventually visited a total of 15 homes before visiting orphanages as well.”
Harding noted that the group has had to turn down requests from families as their goal is to serve neglected elders and orphanages.
“We are glad to end the year on a good note by singing Christmas carols as well as senior citizens’ requests for traditional and nostalgic songs,” he concluded.