KUALA LUMPUR — On Archbishop Julian Leow’s 20th sacerdotal anniversary, he surprised several Street Feeders of KL volunteers with his presence, just as they took to the streets.
Arriving with the National Vice-Chairperson of Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS), Suhana binti Sidik, on April 20, the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur brought chocolate Easter eggs for the homeless and introduced himself as ‘Julian’ to volunteers of different faiths.
He was much a part of the team as he carried heavy boxes and looked out for those in need of a helping hand. As His Grace often encounters the homeless in the quiet of the night, walking along the riverbanks and the dark, slippery underground was a familiar experience to him.
He even scaled a metal frame suspended 4.5 metres over the Klang River to reach out to those hidden in corners. It was heart-warming to watch him speak to every street person as if they were old friends and people he knew personally – living up to his promise to always reach out to the Lost, the Last, the Least, and the Little.
With the recent flash floods affecting the city of Kuala Lumpur, the homeless, particularly those along the Klang riverbanks and under the bridges, lost their belongings as their ‘homes’ were washed away, even before the floods reached the street level.
“In addition to food, the Street Feeders of KL gave out essential aid in December, but many more were affected this time. With the generous support of Caritas Malaysia, my team and I were able to provide more than just the basics. Over the past few months, they received toiletries, mats and blankets, cooking utensils, dry food items, and new clothes – which is a rarity for our homeless friends,” said Gary Liew, the founder of Street Feeders.
Beyond essential aid and replacing items lost in the floods, Street Feeders of KL, together with a team of doctors and volunteers from the MRCS, tended to their medical needs.
“We took to the streets almost weekly to get the homeless vaccinated and boosted. We recently handed out COVID-19 Care Boxes with medication for COVID-19 symptoms, face masks, hand sanitisers, a digital temperature checker, and an oximeter. Educating the homeless community on the importance of healthcare and how to better care for themselves if they get COVID-19, is an essential part of our service, he added.
