By Gordon Ho, SPD Digital and Outreach Manager
I stepped into Mdm Molly Ng’s home, expecting the usual interview. What I received was an embrace instead – the kind that exudes warmth that seeps into you before a word is uttered.
Auntie Molly, as the spritely 94-year-old is affectionately known amongst SPD staff and clients, ushered me in with gentle insistence. Soon after, her helper appeared with curry chicken, bread, kueh lapis, and sliced papaya, and she made sure I ate before we start on the interview.
It felt less like on a work assignment and more like being welcomed into a life built on generosity. That same instinct to nurture, comfort, and include is what she brings with her each month to SPD’s Day Activity Centre (DAC), where she has volunteered for more than two decades.
A Mother’s Love, Extended to Many
Auntie Molly’s journey with volunteering carries a deeply personal meaning. Her youngest son, now 63-year-old Mr Lee Sze Min, was born with intellectual disability due to tyrosine deficiency. In 1994, she brought him to SPD, hoping to enrol him into the then newly opened DAC. However, as the programme then served only persons with physical disabilities and had limited manpower capabilities, Mr Lee was found unsuitable for the programme.
A decade later, in 2004, Auntie Molly returned to SPD, this time as a volunteer. At age 74, she joined the Soka Volunteer Group to support the DAC. More than just reconnecting with SPD, her motivation was deeply personal: she wanted to share with others the same love she had poured into caring for her son.
“When I was at SPD, I met young and old persons on wheelchairs. I wanted to offer love to care for these children,” she shared, affectionately referring to the clients as “children”, a reflection of her enduring maternal instinct.
The group brought joy in simple yet meaningful ways: singing familiar songs, playing with toys, and dancing alongside clients according to their abilities. Once a year, during the festive bustle of Chinatown at Chinese New Year, they accompanied teachers and clients on outings filled with laughter and connection.
A decade later, Auntie Molly and her group concluded their formal volunteering stint with Soka. Yet their commitment did not end there. The group of ten continued their service as “爱心”, meaning “love from the heart”, visiting the DAC regularly to lead exercise and karaoke sessions, and assisting with lunch for those who needed support.
Moments That Stay in the Heart
When asked about memories that stand out, Auntie Molly smiles softly before sharing them.
She recalls a client who once struggled with speech, but now hums simple tunes – a simple achievement that might have easily been overlooked by others. With a gentle sparkle in her eyes, she adds that some months ago, this same client began calling her “Aun…tie”.
Then there are the familiar faces that brighten up with smiles, greetings, and a warmth that fills the room when she steps into the DAC. These moments, Auntie Molly says, are simply deeply touching. They remind her why service matters, why she returned to SPD, and why care is something we give without an expiry date.
“I feel honoured to have served them,” Auntie Molly reflects. “SPD’s activities refreshed my life. They keep me healthy and give me wisdom about what is right and wrong.” She is also grateful for the training and support she received from SPD, which strengthened her ability to serve with confidence and compassion.
A Life That Continues to Give
As I stepped out of her home, I realised the story I had come for was far more than volunteering. It was the story of a woman whose life has been shaped by care – care for her son, care generously extended to others, and care returned to her through a community that offered belonging and purpose.
Through every song, every dance, every shared meal, and every gentle gesture, Auntie Molly shows us that love does not diminish with time, it only finds new ways to grow.
