Xmas wish for new vans

What say you on the issue below?

Old vehicle: Tan Soon Beng (left), 40, helping his friend Teh Kar Wei, 37, to enter the van using the wheelchair hoist at the Cerebral Palsy (Spastic) Children’s Association of Penang on Jalan Mesjid Negeri

THE five vans at Cerebral Palsy (Spastic) Children’s Association of Penang are taking a huge toll on the centre’s funds.

Association treasurer Nutan B. Shah said the centre had no choice but to use and maintain the vans, which are between 10 and 15 years old, to ferry 150 special children from their homes to the centre for day care.

“The centre spends about RM2,000 to service each van per month and the expenses are a headache,” he said when met at the centre along Jalan Mesjid Negeri on Friday.

Nutan said the centre’s Christmas wish was to have two new vans to minimise the maintenance cost.

“We hope that well-wishe can donate new vans,” he said.

Penang Home for the Infirm and Aged public relations officer Tan Chin Hwa said the home with 220 residents and 70 invalids needed regular financial aid from the public.

“The home is also in need of adult diapers for the invalids,” Tan said.

Meanwhile, in support of the Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) Penang and its new premises on Burmah Road, Ivorycares, a charitable arm of Ivory Properties Group Berhad, is setting up a booth to raise funds for WCC.

Ivorycares vice-president Ann Tan said a booth selling home-made cakes and spaghetti would be set up at the Penang Times Square between 12pm and 2pm from tomorrow to Dec 23.

“We also invite the WCC to sell their items on Dec 23 from noon to 2pm during the ‘Battle of Penang Hawkers Masters’ which will be held from tomorrow to Dec 25.

“The WCC can grab this opportunity to raise more funds for their new premises,” she said.