NEW ROOFING: Wan and a worker inspect the roof of Siti’s house.
KUCHING: Siti Melaka of Kampung Kudei Baru is happy that her house has been repaired after a kind man sponsored materials and cost of workmanship.
Siti, 71, has been living in a dilapidated wooden house with her 42-year-old son, Michael who is paralysed from the waist down.
Siti said: “This is the best Christmas gift. Now my son and I will not be worried when it rains. I can sleep peacefully at night in our new home.”
They used to rely on the income of Michael but a road accident two years ago left him semi-paralysed. He uses his two hands to drag himself around the house.
Mother and son received a government aid of RM300 per month but that is not enough for both of them. Siti and Michael do not have water or electricity supply as they cannot afford the bills. Hence they resort to buying water from one of their neighbours.
The team from Hope Place noted that the roof of her house was leaking badly. Many parts of the house were in dire need of repair. They referred to as ‘bathroom’ a tiny corner of the house where a hole through the wooden flooring allows water to flow out.
Relating her ordeal to the volunteers from Hope Place including Kelvin Wan, Siti said she hoped someone would mend the roof so she would not have to endure sleepless nights whenever it rained.
“After half a year of looking around for sponsorship, finally someone came forward to help the family and sponsored materials and workmanship,” Wan said when met at The Borneo Post office here yesterday.
“Hope Place targets three main groups – the disabled, individuals suffering from illnesses, and poor families with monthly income below RM250 per head lacking basic necessities such as water and electricity,” he added.
“Anyone or companies who wish to donate daily necessities to these families can contact Hope Place at 013-5672775 from 8.30am to 12.30pm, Mondays to Fridays for more information,” he said.
Hope Place welcomes donations of daily necessities (cooking oil, canned food, biscuits and instant noodles).
It thanked generous members of the public who responded to their call to sponsor the materials needed.