After putting in a month-long effort at raising funds for Imm’s Shelter and garnering physical help for her, I’m glad things are looking well now.
Here’s an update from Judy:
From: Judy Chua
Date: Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 1:40 AM
Subject: Imm & her animals thank you
Dear all
Please find attached Imm’s thank you letter to all of you for your kind and generous donations – financially, in kind and hands-on help. I’m emailing her letter on her behalf as her computer is still under repair awaiting parts.
We are both very touched by the donations that came in in the space of 1 month, also the volunteers who have come in to help at the shelter since the appeal. The financial donations received to date since 4 March when Kah Yein posted the appeal on her blog and her subsequent appeal to SJBA in mid March amount to RM16,958. Monthly pledges for a year have also been made by a few donors from April onwards totalling RM2,200 per month. The generosity and goodness flowing from your hearts is truly amazing and inspiring. Imm and I have been so blessed to see so much goodness in such a short space of time.
When I contacted Kah Yein on 1 March to enquire if she knew of any animal lovers in Ipoh who would like to volunteer at Imm’s shelter, it was an act of desperation. I had stepped in to help Imm at her shelter in early Feb when I was shocked at how run down she looked since I last saw her. By end Feb, I too was feeling burnt out and Imm was having dizzy spells. The daily home cooked meals that my sis had prepared for her was obviously not making much inroad for her health & well-being. I was extremely worried that if Imm collapses and she looked as if she would, I knew that the animals and I would be in dire straits.
It was such a relief to receive immediate and spontaneous help. The appeal was posted on Thursday, 4th March, and two days later, PC and his family and friend (Chew) from Kajang came to meet Imm and visit her shelter. They responded with an immediate and generous donation. More donations begin to flow in from complete strangers who have read KY’s blog and appeal, mostly from M’sia but also from as faraway as Australia and the Netherlands. By Monday 7 March, new volunteers came in to help with the cleaning. There was Yeng, my sister, and Yvonne, Kah Yein’s school mate. Ganesh and Mohan, the student workers also turned up though they only lasted for a couple of days. Their parents did not approve of their travel to Ipoh from Gopeng each day. Mid week, there was Curtis (Yvonne’s son) , his friend Swee Ee, and my friend,Charmaine. My friend, Carol joined in mid-March and is now helping once or twice each week. Yvonne and Curtis have also become regular volunteers. And then, Linda called and turned up with her husband Rafi and 10 year old daughter, Tiha. Rafi did such a brilliant job clearing the grass and weeds. Linda and Tiha helped in the cattery and the cleaning and were so amazingly comfortable with the dogs. Linda said that they will come in once a month and Rafi will cut the grass.
How not to be de-stressed with such unexpected kindness. Although Imm is still tired as she is unable to have any days off, I can see that she’s no longer overwhelmed by financial worries and having to do it alone at the shelter. And I can see she’s thrilled to see young adults like Curtis, Swee Ee, Linda and also Hanxue from KL who has dropped in twice to give a donation and to offer his IT expertise. Young adults who have a genuine love for unwanted animals are a rare sight. They (Curtis & co.) are so well-mannered too. Kudos to their parents!
With the extra pairs of hands, the shelter has been given a good clean-up and tidy make-over. Imm herself commented that it seemed much easier to do the cleaning these days. The animals too now can get more attention from Imm and the volunteers.
Sadly, one dog (Bobby) and one cat (Puss) have passed away recently. Both of them were old and were not well. Imm had taken them to the vet to be put on drip to make them more comfortable. Bobby passed away on the 24th morning whilst still at the vet’s clinic. Puss was discharged on 31st March but passed away on 2nd April. I took Kit (the cat) home with me in mid-March to care for her ear tumour that was bleeding daily. The H2O2 treatment that the vet recommended has cleared the outer tumour (it dropped off) and the inside tumour has stopped bleeding since yesterday. Unfortunately, she came down with flu yesterday but seemed better today after taking the flu medication.
Bessie ( a black dog) had to be taken to the vet today as she had a wound below her eye that has not healed. She was in a fight with another dog last Thursday. Poor Ah Mei (Imm’s long time regular volunteer) fell trying to break the fight.
Imm’s computer will hopefully be repaired by this week. The next update will be from her.
Till then , thank you all so much again for reaffirming that there is indeed goodness in this world.
May you and your loved ones be blessed for your kindness and generosity.
With heartfelt appreciation
Judy
p.s: I have also attached is a stmt of expenses incurred and paid to date.
pss: I do not have the email contacts for the following donors. If you know them, would appreciate if you will kindly fwd this thank you note and update to them. They are: Liong Ai Wee, Chin Hui Wenn, Lim Swee Imm (Ipoh), Eric Ko, Lau Yew Beng, Lim Jin Aun, Chew (from Kajang), and Yvonne’s brother. TQ.
And, from Imm herself:
Thank you for your kind donations to my animal shelter. Sorry for not replying to you all earlier because my computer is still in the workshop and waiting for the parts to arrive. It should be ready by end of this week so I can be in touch with you all again. I am also very busy everyday because I have to prepare their food and clean the shelter. There are volunteers coming most of the week and they help with the cleaning too. The animals are very lucky for they have these nice people to play with them.
I thank you very much for all your support and will keep in touch to let you know how we are doing,
Kind Regards
Phaik Imm
Well, isn’t this a nice way to start off another good day? Now, shall we go out there and lend a hand to another being in need of our love and attention?
Let’s go!