SALVATION ARMY PENANG “WEAR IT WITH US!” FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN 2020

SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW

FOR THE SALVATION ARMY PENANG “WEAR IT WITH US!” FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN 2020

3 October 2020 @ 8A Logan Road

Major Francis Ng
Regional Officer Headquarters Malaysia

Major Spener
Penang Team Leader for Corps Officer

Major Rai
Penang Team Leader for Community Service                  

Organising Committees

Distinguished guests, sponsors, donors, staff & volunteers

Members of the Salvation Army, Ladies & Gentlemen and boys & girls                                                                        

 

Good morning to all of you!

I would like to thank you all for coming. We are gathered here today for one common goal – to raise funds to help the disadvantaged in our community through The Salvation Army.

The Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected charities and NGOs like The Salvation Army especially when it comes to fundraising activities. Events such as large dinners or food fairs are not allowed under the current Standard Operating Procedures to curb the spread of Covid-19. Even the number of volunteers and walk-in donors at charities has declined as the public adheres to movement control restrictions. All of these makes things doubly difficult for charity homes like The Salvation Army in Penang.

Despite the pandemic, The Salvation Army Penang Children’s Home continues to operate, providing the vital care and protection for our vulnerable children. Many of the children have no families to return to during the MCO and have no choice but to stay under the care of The Salvation Army. The officers and staff of the Home continue to report for duties throughout the MCO as essential workers. There was no shut down at The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army Penang has a long tradition of helping poor and needy families especially caring for boys in its Home at Jalan Logan. For many years, this organisation has provided a ‘caring home’ that many boys were not able to have with their own families.

Throughout the years since its inception, The Salvation Army has grown and expanded its capabilities to provide opportunities for disadvantaged boys to receive an education, care and protection, and a brighter future. Since 1938 The Salvation Army Penang has been home to many hundreds of boys who have gone on to lead successful lives. Not only have they been successful in their careers but also successful in having families of their own and becoming good and caring fathers to their own children.

I thank and applaud the people of Penang who have been very supportive of The Salvation Army. The annual Open Day, which I was privileged to attend last year, was well supported and many members of the public had a great time and enjoyed the food specialties that were on sale. But because of Covid-19 such a big public event is just not possible for the time being.

As a very appropriate replacement, The Salvation Army is now running a fundraising campaign called WEAR IT WITH US. This fundraiser encourages the public to wear The Salvation Army face mask for charity.

The face mask, which carries The Red Shield, which is the logo of The Salvation Army, is given as a gift to everyone who makes a donation of RM100 or more to The Salvation Army. This is a great way of not only raising funds but promoting one of the most important practices of the New Normal – wearing a face mask.

I, once again, thank all of you for being here today and for inviting me to your meaningful campaign. Together, the state government as well as the people of Penang  shall weather the storm of challenges brought by Covid-19 and it is with resilience, perseverance and innovation that all of us can make the best out of the New Normal requirements imposed on us.

Thank you.