Ray of Hope is raising $4,200 ($350 x 12 months) to support Mdm Halijah with her grocery expenses. Your support will ensure that this senior does not have to worry about her next meal.

Mdm Halijah lives in a two-room rental flat. After her husband passed away, she gave up the food stall which they had run together. Her eldest son passed away many years ago and she has an estranged relationship with her younger son who moved to the Philippines in 2015.

Mdm Halijah has been living along for much of the time since. She underwent knee surgery in 2017 and stopped taking private catering orders which was how she got by. Her younger son recently returned to Singapore and is currently unemployed. They still need time to work through the issues in their relationship and reconcile.

Mdm Halijah relies on minimal CPF payouts and her savings to get by. Over the years, her savings have been depleted and she struggles to put food on the table.The 70 year-old suffers from multiple illness: diabetes, high cholesterol, cataract and severe breathlessness. Because of the large amount of medication she has been prescribed, she often experiences severe side effects and discomfort. She has difficulty sleeping at night because of a pain at her spine; the short, sharp pains make it difficult for her to stand or sit for long. She finds it difficult to get around because of her failing knees.

Despite these ongoing battles, Mdm Halijah believes in taking one day at a time. Even without family support, Mdm Halijah takes good care of her neighbours and shares what little she has with them, because she knows exactly how it feels to be isolated.

*Mdm Halijah is not receiving social assistance.