Throngs of volunteers were seen flocking into the branch office around 3pm on August 17. Apparently, these were the responses to the SMS sent out earlier by the branch’s secretary pleading for helpers to make collection boxes for the upcoming street collection which aims to raise reconstruction funds for the Typhoon Morakot survivors in Taiwan.

Volunteers transforming the recycled biscuit tins into collection boxes.

A senior helping with the pasting work.

Volunteers Liu Yao Hung (right) and Guo Yu (left) were busy at work.

Logistics volunteer See Yuet Wah did not bother about her sprained elbow and instead focuses on doing her job.

After everyone has settled down, the crew was divided into two divisions: the first group was tasked with pasting wrappers (printed and cut into fitting pieces a day before by the publicity team) onto the recycled tins, and the other was responsible for cutting and affixing transparent films onto the wrapped tins. Each of the steps requires high precision and mindfulness as slight negligence will cause misaligns or creases on the surfaces.

After briefing, the volunteers put their heart into the tasks and were soon able to speed up the entire production.

As it was Monday, those who came helping were mostly volunteers who are not working. Volunteer Liu Yao Hung, however, was one special helper who’s still donning his work uniform. The UMC Wafer Foundry engineer applied for half-day leave immediately when he received the SMS notification in the morning. It was rather rush for him to go back home to get change, so he decided to come straight to the branch office, which is just a few blocks away from his company.

The Tainan native, who has been living here with his wife and children for six years, explained the reason of his leave, “I know I can't do much to help my country being at oversea so I’d jump at any chance I could get.” While feeling glad that his hometown was unaffected by the heavy floods, his heart went out to the victims whenever he watches the news.

He was at the second group that day and was very moved to see the volunteers putting their heart and soul into the work. “Look, these boxes are all shielded by films to make the words look clearer and to protect them from rains.”

Working opposite him was Guo Yu, a volunteer from Sichuan, China who joined the local chapter three months ago when she came to the Lion City. Guo first met Tzu Chi volunteers in her hometown after the deadly earthquake ruined much of her homeland last year. The sight of the Taiwanese Tzu Chi volunteers soothing the survivors moved her greatly and soon she was part of the team cooking for and visiting her countrymen.

She was resting at home from her off day in the morning and when the recruitment SMS came, she did not hesitate to come forth. “I want to return the kindness that my countrymen and I received, so without a doubt I’m part of this,” said Guo. The earnest volunteer is very much looking forward to the upcoming street fundraising, which will be her first.

With just four hours from 3pm to 7pm, the crew has managed to complete closed to 500 collection boxes. Seeing their works stacking high, the volunteers were seen brimming with smiles and satisfaction. Most of them will take to the streets on coming Sunday (23 August) while the collection boxes will be their medium to gather the love and compassion of the public.

For updates on Tzu Chi’s relief for Typhoon Morakot survivors, go to www.us.tzuchi.org