CHCSA’s House of JOY celebrated Christmas with an afternoon of games and food.
A group of elderly folks stood around a young man speaking into a microphone. Their expression were serious as they gazed upon the frying pan on the table.
“$40,” said an elderly gentleman decisively.
“$50,” said a senior lady.
“And the price is…$49! Auntie walks away with the frying pan!” declared the young game host.
This was the scene at the House of JOY Christmas lunch, where beneficiaries enjoy a meal and fun games like “Guess The Price”.
HOJ is a senior activity center run by City Harvest Community Service Association for the residents of Mountbatten and Toa Payoh estate. The members from these two estates came together for afternoon tea at Goodwood Park Hotel on Dec 15 to celebrate Christmas.
Dressed in their Sunday best, the elderly folks strolled into the grand lobby with smiles on their faces. Volunteers decked out in Santa hats lined the corridor to greet the elderly guests. These volunteers were all staff members of Citrus Media.
Citrus Media’s publisher Angie Lim told City News that the publishing company closed their office for half a day so that all 15 members of its staff could participate in this event.
“I think it is very meaningful for all of us to be serving the elderly together,” said Lim. “This is the first time we are doing it and I feel that it gives us a chance to bond as a team.”
Together with the HOJ workers, the volunteers came up with games and prizes that the elderly folks would enjoy. Lim and her managers even took time to buy food and household items as prizes.
The afternoon tea started with a buffet featuring local favorites like laksa, soon kueh, curry chicken and otah. While they enjoyed their food, the volunteers conducted games. First, each table was given a bag and the participants had to guess the items in the bag by feeling them. The elderly participants excitedly passed the bags round the table, feeling the items through the cloth and discussing the possibilities. Thought not all won a prize, everyone had a good laugh.
The next game was the highlight of the afternoon. Each estate had to send out one participant to guess the price of the item in the hands of the host. The elderly folks spent the next half hour discussing and guessing the prices of the food and household items in an exciting contest.
The time of feasting and games ended all too soon and the seniors set for home, each with a Christmas gift bag and a heart filled with joy.
