MISSION
Our Conscience, Hands, and Feet By Godâs grace, Heartfriends has become a vital part of the Dover community â itâs time more SJSMers learnt what they do and get on board.
S
ay âHeartfriendsâ, and most people immediately think âKopiStopâ â but the ministry is really about much more than that, even though the onset of COVID-19 has pushed many of these activities into hibernation. These days, due to gatherings being proscribed, Heartfriends Community Services (HCS) has shifted its efforts to running âKopi Stop Liteâ: distributing about 65 food packets to less privileged households in the area (Blocks 1â5, Dover Road) on Saturday mornings. The first Saturday of every month sees the Heartfriends Befrienders (a pioneering group of staff and volunteers who have become household names in the area) making their rounds as well, keeping tabs on about 30 listed households. They can no longer hold dance/exercise programmes or other group activities due to safe distancing measures, but home visitation, and assisting the elderly and disadvantaged with clinic/hospital appointments and home repairs/improvements, has intensified in recent months. Quite often, Heartfriendsâ outreach to the poorer residents, usually the elderly or handicapped, involves meeting their financial needs. In this respect, the Heartfriends staff is grateful for the expertise and help of SJSMâs Financial Hardship Relief Committee (comprising SJSMers) which lends support in the disbursement of funds. In 2020, many SJSMers gave towards this cause.
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From top: Breakfast deliveries are now the mainstay of âKopiStop Liteâ; popular pre-COVID activities included interactive sing-alongs; BASC provides children with a safe space as well as a routine, which includes meals, rest, homework and play time.
