Seven ways to bless others with your time

31 January 2018

For the year ahead, how would you like to devote some time to an act of mercy, in gratitude to Christ? No matter what your abilities or talents are, you can find a meaningful way to share them with the less fortunate. As part of ‘The Giving Methodist’ (TGM) campaign, Methodists can give their time through any of the 200-plus volunteering opportunities available at various Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) centres.

Scheduled from 14 Feb (Wed) to 24 Mar (Sat) 2018, these activities are suitable for any age group, skill set, or interest. You may choose to register individually or as a group with your family, friends, cell group, or church groups. The main categories are:

Fun and sun

Gather 10 to 30 family members and friends to host a party or mini-carnival for the homeless and destitute residents of MWS Christalite Methodist Home. You may create your own game booths, food stands, and entertainment. Smaller groups of volunteers may also plan short visits to interact and play games with the residents of MWS Nursing Home – Yew Tee. MWS Bethany Nursing Home – Choa Chu Kang would also appreciate your help in facilitating games, singing along, and helping out during tea breaks at its regular Hope Kee sessions.

Reminiscence therapy

With Chinese New Year and Easter around the corner, it is the perfect time to participate in events that take the elderly down memory lane. You can plan a festival celebration, help to put up decorations, or hold a drama or musical performance for the old folks of any of our eldercare centres, including MWS Nursing Home – Yew Tee, MWS Bethany Nursing Home – Choa Chu Kang, and MWS Christalite Methodist Home.

Imagine and create

Share your love for a hobby with lonely seniors at MWS Senior Activity Centre – Golden Lily @ Pasir Ris. Whether it is floral arrangement, crafting, painting, or colouring, the centre welcomes volunteers to conduct basic classes and connect with its members.

Share your expertise

If you are a ukulele player, MWS Senior Activity Centre – GreenTops @ Sims Place, which has an active hobby group, would love to have you ‘jam’ and sing with them, or even teach them to play the instrument. Other centres with ukulele member hobby groups include MWS Senior Activity Centre – Golden Lily @ Pasir Ris and MWS Charis ACE – Geylang East.

Keep it movin’

Nothing beats a round of morning exercise. If you are physically fit, stretch your limbs by helping to wheel residents of MWS Bethany Nursing Home – Choa Chu Kang out to a nearby community space for their rehabilitative exercise classes. For something a little more interactive, join the Sports Fiesta activity at MWS Nursing Home – Yew Tee, where you will assist therapists with exercises and games.

Home improvement

Our centres need help with ad-hoc maintenance and cleaning. If you, your church, or your company can spare a few hours to do repairs, painting, spring-cleaning, or some general sprucing up, please approach us to plan your own activity.

Up close and personal

If you feel that you do not have specific hobbies or talents to contribute, you can offer the gift of your friendship to those who need it. Sign up as a befriender with MWS Christalite Methodist Home for simple ‘chit-chat’ sessions or to take residents out for a meal. Alternatively, participate in a coffee shop outing on Monday afternoons to give the ill and frail elderly of MWS Nursing Home – Yew Tee a small treat.

By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team

To browse a full list of activities and register as a volunteer, visit thegivingmethodist.sg/give-time.
For enquiries, contact us at tgm@mws.sg.
To stay abreast of TGM updates, please visit and ‘Like’ us at facebook.com/TheGivingMethodist.
To find out more about MWS centres and programmes, go to www.mws.sg.

Ivy Seetow (right) from Sengkang Methodist Church volunteers at MWS Senior Activity Centre – Fernvale Rivergrove, where she conducts handicraft, cooking, and baking lessons.