IPOH: Smiles lit up the faces of underprivileged parents and their children when they shopped for Hari Raya essentials through a programme organised by the Manjoi Community Centre here.
Families began arriving as early as 7.45am for the initiative, which allowed children to choose festive items including baju Melayu, baju kurung and shoes.
Quality assurance operator Nurfaezah Mohd Nazri, 36, said she was grateful for the assistance as this was the first time her 10-year-old son had been chosen to receive such aid.
“I am very thankful. I will use it to buy Hari Raya outfits for my children. Usually, my children wear clothes from previous Raya celebrations or those given by others.
“This year, they get to choose their own clothing and it will also be the first time my son gets to wear a samping,” she said yesterday at Mydin Meru Raya here.
Nurfaezah, a single mother of two who earns below RM2,000 a month, said she rarely buys new clothes for herself.
“For me, I usually just wear clothes from previous years. The most important thing is that my children get something new for Hari Raya,” she said.
Housewife Nurul Hidatul Hidayah Abd Halim, 32, said she was happy that her nine-year-old daughter had been selected for the aid.
“With prices increasing these days, this assistance is very helpful as it helps reduce our Hari Raya expenses this year.
“It definitely makes things easier for those who need help,” she said.
Housewife Ummul Maizatul Hanipah, 40, said the aid would help ease her family’s financial burden.
“I have five children and the one receiving the aid is my third son. With our limited income, some of his siblings wear old clothes,” she said.
“I am very grateful and hope this kind of assistance can continue, especially for families with lower incomes like ours,” she added.
“I plan to buy clothing for my children.”
Special Officer to the Perak Mentri Besar, Datuk Asmuni Awi, said that 320 children under 17 had been selected to receive vouchers worth RM150 each.
The children, who were picked from 12 zones in the Manjoi area, including Klebang, Meru, Manjoi, Chepor and Chemor, were allowed to purchase Hari Raya essentials such as baju Melayu, baju kurung and shoes.
“We have been organising this programme annually for the past eight years to help ease the burden on parents,” he said.
“The main aim is to make them happy because not everyone can afford to bring their children to shopping malls to buy new Hari Raya clothing.
“Through this programme, we hope to help reduce their financial burden,” he added.
