Visitors buying some handicraft items using coupons at the fair.
DESPITE a downpour, thousands thronged St Nicholas Home (SNH) for its annual food carnival at its premises in Jalan Bagan Jermal in Pulau Tikus, Penang.
The heavy rain, which started at about 10am, did not stop visitors from hunting for their favourite food and drinks.
Carnival-goers tucking in during the event; — Photos ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
Among the popular food items on sale during the event were char koay teow, satay, burgers and nasi lemak. Other food such as cookies, pastries and snacks were also best sellers.
Visitors were required to purchase coupons to buy the food and drinks on sale.
SNH residents also set up booths to sell items like shirts and provide services like reflexology.
There were also stage performances, including by SNH residents during the event.
People queuing up for char koay teow at the fair held at St Nicholas Home in Jalan Bagan Jermal in Pulau Tikus, Penang.
SNH general manager Carmen Chew said there were about 2,000 visitors. Most were regulars who join the food carnival every year.
She said the objective of the annual event was to raise funds for SNH, which depends on public donations for its operations.
“The carnival raised about RM110,000 from the sale of coupons.”
She said the visually impaired who were trained at SNH also helped raise funds by providing massages.
SNH also provides massages at the home’s wellness centre and also has a cafe, run by SNH interns and staff.
An artist drawing a caricature of one of the visitors.
SNH trainee Muhamad Faris Nasrullah Fauzi, who has been at the home for about a year, said he had learned how to provide massage services.
“This new massage skill will help me gain an income and become independent despite being visually impaired.”
Muhamad Faris became partially sighted at 15 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
He has also learned computer skills at SNH. Also present were Pulau Tikus assemblyman Joshua Woo Sze Zeng and Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk A. Rajendran.
