For over a month, helpers and volunteers of the cookie production team work tirelessly at the baking area. Their effort paid off with the initial batch of 6000 boxes of CNY cookies being fully ordered within just a few days…… For over a month, groups of housewives and grannies report to Jing Si Hall everyday to carry out their baking duties, performing every procedure with earnest dedication.

Brother See Seng Hua, though sweating profusely, enjoys practicing the baking technique he learnt from his predecessors. The commitment shown by these devoted volunteers keeps the cycle of love going.

Whenever Chinese New Year approaches, one will see a scene of bustle and excitement in the Jing Si Hall of Tzu Chi Singapore branch. Yes, it is time for Chinese New Year cookie charity sales and everyone is seen busy carrying out their baking duties - kneading the dough, weighing the dough and filling, mixing the ingredients, packaging and taking orders. All the hard work is translated into the nicely packaged cookies with joy radiating to those who receive them.

“Remember to bring your own lunchboxes, OK?” reminds the packaging volunteer. The volunteer further explains while keeping her hands busy, “it’s for the sake of the environment and it saves money. Usual price for a box of cookies is $16; it’s only $13 if you bring your own lunchbox. ”

So, one saves $3 for each purchase with personal lunchbox. By the looks of it, the environmental-friendly plastic lunchboxes filled with delicious pineapple pillows, crispy almond cookies with modest packaging certainly exhibit the eco-friendly concept of the production team.

From 21 Dec 2009 to late Jan 2010, Monday to Friday, the cookie production receives a daily turnout of about 40 volunteers and helpers who dedicate themselves to the operation without complaints and excuses.

In the baking corner, a sweating See Seng Hua is seen busy keeping an eye on his “property”. The newly certified Tzu Cheng Faith Corp member works as a driver commuting international school students to school. Granted a three-week holiday before Chinese New Year (thanks to the nature of his school job), he and his wife were quick to spend just one week completing their house chores and spring cleaning, much ahead of Chinese New Year.

So what does Brother See do with his remaining holidays? He volunteers as a cookie roaster – his first in his life – almost everyday!

“Not everyone can stand the oven heat,” says the maiden roaster, “in order to avoid uneven heating, we have to check the batch every three minutes.”

Brother See further explains that it is not too difficult to control the baking temperature. The tough part is essentially to endure the heat from the oven and to hold out the hot cookies timely. In order to let the cookie dough be evenly heated, the roaster is required to change sides of the oven plates on a routine basis. This is not an easy task, but Brother See took it up resolutely to help lighten the burden of the two existing roasters.

“Everyone is contributing their time and effort during this busy period. Since I am available, certainly I would like to be counted in. We have to act when we are able to, for taking action is the right thing to do,” enthuses Brother See.

Upon receiving the “Help Haiti with Love” fundraising appeal from its Taiwan headquarters, the Singapore branch of Tzu Chi Foundation immediately adjusted the operational guidelines of its Chinese New Year Charity Fair and decided that the proceeds from the project, including the sales of Chinese New Year cookies, be channeled to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund instead of the original plan for the branch’s Charity and Development Fund. 

Be it those who volunteer their time for the cookie baking, or those who spend money buying the goodies, everyone is devoting himself/herself to the fundraising efforts. Within just a few days, the initial batch of 6000 boxes of CNY cookies has been fully ordered. After discussion, a second batch of 500 boxes was called for production with help from more volunteers.

For over a month, rain or shine, members of the cookie production team have been working in the baking area with earnest dedication. In this trying time for Haiti, Singapore’s love and kindness are passed on to the earthquake sufferers through the thousands of cookies made by these helping hands.