Willing Hearts - 1 Lor J Telok Kurau

As a first timer here, the experience was horrendous. A regular was very rude and unkind. I appreciate that it is for a good cause and I hope volunteering would be an enjoyable and pleasant experience for everyone and for anyone to want to do it again instead of detesting every min of this supposedly enriching process.

I went for volunteering work for 2times this year. As the soup kitchen was managed by the volunteers so it is probably fine even it is a bit unorganized. However two starts because of my lousy experience with one regular volunteer here, the Malay guy. Honestly speaking I nv seen anyone so bossy and rude ever! I was assigned to wash the vegetables and as a small lady, I did try my best to wash. However, the guy kept criticizing and nagging about the way I was doing things. Everyone has their own way to do things, no right or wrong or it is basic manner to accept the differences. U know that feeling, I was already exhausted and my hands got cut accidentally but I was still washing vegetables and have to bear with someone nagging me about I was doing nothing right or valuable. I really hope the guy can see all the comments here and have some self reflection what that place is for and stop nagging and leave other volunteers alone. Thanks!

First time volunteering here. Didn't have trouble finding what to do as me and other volunteers were given tasks. So far everybody who I interacted with have been friendly and helpful

Great commitment YOU CAN MAKE with common skill or labor which you can use now, just any help welcomed at all the time! Actually now just moved to this new place so lots of help needed. Please try to give helping-hands you could serve now.

It was generally a pleasant experience for a first-timer except for one “regular”. The lady at the safeentry chose the veg-cutting station for me. Different colour stickers represented different stations. I came in a group of 5, the gentlemen were initially tasked with more menial work of loading and unloading first. The ladies were tasked with cutting vegetables straight. Do prepare a good knife otherwise you’ll be developing blisters on your hands for using brute force. Everyone was nice except for one “regular” who made uncalled for remarks. I was about to head to the sink to wash my knife when he stood from across the sink and paused there. I had thought he needed assistance to switch on the tap so I waited for him. “Sink alr choke, know how to use don’t know how to clear is it?” While he tried to clear the blockage on the right side; I did the left but the water on my side still didn’t flow. Clearly, it wasn’t a veg accumulation issue. It was my first encounter with a choked sink, there wasn’t a need to speak to anyone with that accusation tone when we are all just there to help. The same “regular” also ordered my male friend to move heavy items around. When it was almost 4pm, he asked “must leave at exactly 4pm?” All in all, it was still a pleasant experience to come with a group of friends. Every bit of effort will help. Also, do spare a thought when cutting vegetables by keeping it bite size (for elderly). The afternoon people had to recut what the morning team had already cut.

I went there with my friend today. The volunteers are very friendly and easy to find work to do. There’s no mess there. If you’re new to this place, you can go up and ask whoever comes to you or anyone cutting vege there, smile and tell them you are new and ask them what vege you can cut. Usually you’ll need a chopping board and a knife, a plastic bag for the unwanted parts of the vegetable, a basket for the cut veg and a stool to sit on. It’s fun to chit chat with the friendly uncles and aunties there. Before we left, we were invited for some drinks.

Wonderful volunteers doing wonderful work to save lives. I am very impressed and inspired by what I saw when I went there to donate blankets and towels they were delivering to poor people overseas. Even the security guard at the gate was very passionate and proud to be working for such organisations. I can feel his passion and his pride when he greeted me so happily and thanked me for donating.

Nice place with a good cause to provide meals for needy beneficiaries. But as a new volunteer it’s tricky to understand what to do, as you turn up but you are not aware or assigned any role up front. After the check in I wandered around the corridor until chanced upon the vegetable cutting section where I was put in a seat. They have pretty strict rule on what part of the vegetable they want, even slightly yellow edged leaves are discarded, also the editable flower section of the kailan is thrown away. I find that a bit strange but it’s their rules Half way was asked to help in kitchen instead to push trolleys. Overall fine, but could be more beginner friendly