Nimble fingers

Nimble fingers
The Star Online
By ONG YEE TING

ALTHOUGH she is now 83 years old with failing eyesight, Tan Eng Tin still has the enthusiasm to contribute to charity.  

Tan is one of the consistent volunteers of Penang Adventist Hospital, offering services on most Wednesdays to make handicraft for charity sales. 

“I love spending my time here, it’s meaningful and I feel useful,” she said, while stitching some colourful pieces of cloth to make a cushion cover. 

She is among a group of 30 women who meet regularly to work on handicraft ranging from those as small as pin cushions to fancy toddlers’ dresses with fine embroidery and smocking. 

They set up a small kiosk at the hospital lobby to sell their handicraft to patients, visitors and hospital staff. 

he chairperson of the volunteer group, Tang Poh Gim, 60, said the group was set up in 2001 and had since been making craft for sale to the public.  

“Our volunteers are all friends and we share with each other ideas and techniques of making the craft,” she said. 

Tang said the items sold like hot cakes during festive seasons.  

“People like to buy small items like our creative door knob covers and useful utility bags to decorate their houses and teddy bears and bags as gifts to friends,” she said, showing a few of their festive-themed products. 

Over the years, they had collected about RM30,000 through sales and the money had been handed over to the hospital management to be used for charity purposes. 

Housewife Betty Cheong, 60, said sewing was her hobby since she was a child and the voluntary work was an opportunity for her to put her interest to good use. 

Kathryn Loh, 49, is an administrative staff and instead of spending her Wednesday off days relaxing at home, she finds volunteering in the hospital a much better way to spend her free time. 

“I am one of the earliest who joined the service and I learn a lot from my friends here,” she said with a smile. 

All the products are reasonably priced and customers find them interesting. 

Grace Kung, 45, who was visiting her mother-in-law did her “shopping” at the booth, picking assorted bags and cushion covers. 

”These items are pretty and the prices are also reasonable. They make good presents,” she added. 

The charity handicraft sale is held at the hospital lobby on most Wednesdays.