Other people doesn't understand it is hard

It's getting harder to do voluntary works nowadays. Especially with restricted funds.

Public thought it is easy for us. It is not. Blood donation campaign had been contaminated with the consolation given by organizers. It became a must for blood donation campaign organizers to prepare gifts to donors like rice and hampers. Voluntary blood donation had inverted into "selling" of blood. So, "voluntary" and "donation" is already out of the talk.

Government had set up lots of voluntary units that had the same auxiliary duty as we had in the past. They recruited their members and give out free uniforms, training allowances, duty allowances and officer allowances. Government give professional trainings to them. We are left behind in terms of monies. They rather "volunteer" themselves in units that provide more welfare and eventually "more monies" than us.

We also faced financial problems on our own. Building started to worn out, lack of funds to pay salary, utility bills, unable to upgrade facilities due to financial constraints. When we go for flag sale once a year, members will get some long faces back then and complaint that who and who had said something not nice to them. Some kind souls do donate a lot, but that was only a few.

When disaster came, we can't render much help. We are lack of facilities, no boat, engine breakout, vehicle worn out. We get scolded by public and asked where did the money they donated gone to? We can only complaint quietly in our heart that their little coins were not even enough to support our basic office routine, not to say all those upgrades which need lots and lots of funds. But they don't understand.

During the last replacement of headquarter curtains, each committee members contributed their money and lastly enough after some collection among ourselves and some members working outside. It is rather sad that we contribute everything and still not supported by the community. A voluntary organization which financially is wholly dependent on the public had to struggle on with bits and bits of collection among the committee.

Some of the members left because of this. They prefer to stand at the other side to scold at us who still stand firm in our will to serve in this community. Some lost their strength to continue because of all the problems they faced.

We, the remainders, still stand firm and still full of faith in what we believe. We treat the problems as the challenges. We can't go astray from our mission. It is important to believe that we can succeed when we have the will. For now, we are climbing some thousands of staircases. It will be done step by step. We will hit the top someday, it is only the matters of time and will.

First upgrade we'd like to do is the ambulance. Upgrade and improve the patient transporting service. Change the secondary stretcher into cot trolley stretcher, add in a scoop stretcher, prepare a better mobile first aid kit, buy new immobilization kits and do an engine overhauling. But it is all about funds...

Please help...