Mr Tony Tay is the founder of Willing Hearts, a fully volunteer-based non-profit organisation, which cooks and distributes hot-packed meals daily to the needy across Singapore. He has a simple aim, which is "To Serve".
Tony was inspired and touched when he saw how his late mother’s charitable work in church had impacted lives. Heartened by the number of people who came to pay their last respects at her funeral, Tony began distributing excess bread and raw vegetables to the needy. When he found that some beneficiaries could not cook, he took it upon himself to cook a little extra each day in his kitchen. This was how Willing Hearts started.
Impacting the community:
Since 2003, Willing Hearts has grown to an organisation that operates 365 days a year.
The number of meals served has grown 100 fold in 10 years, to 3,000 meals a day. Willing Hearts has 38 food distribution points across the island in 2013, growing from 18 distribution points just two years ago.
Multiplier effect:
Tony actively sought resources to expand Willing Hearts’ activities. Through sheer force of will, Tony has found ways to tap existing resources, seek new resources, and innovate to support Willing Hearts’ expansion.
Willing Hearts has the support of a core number of donors and volunteers. The core group of 20 volunteers comprises people from all walks of life, including entrepreneurs, professionals and retirees. Willing Hearts has also been “adopted” by corporates and also works with other non-profit organisations to organise mass lunches and fun fairs for the underprivileged.
Mr Joshua Tan, Executive Director of HighPoint Community Services Association, said, “I salute Mr Tony Tay for his tenacity and 'never say die' attitude and the way he galvanises and motivates his staff and volunteers.”
Food is not the only help given. Tony also started a bursary fund for students when he saw children in school uniforms lining up for food. Seeing the need, he went the extra mile to form tuition and study groups and recruited volunteers to help them.
Inspiration and role model:
Tony’s involvement in the logistics food chain permeates every aspect of operations, such as collecting food supplies, cooking, delivering food, and inspiring the generosity of individual and corporate donors.
Having been an entrepreneur before starting Willing Hearts, Tony’s tenacity and ability to get things done has kept operations going over the years. Now in his 60s, he continues to serve daily instead of retiring. He wakes up at 4.30am to be the first to arrive at the kitchen. He greets volunteers as they arrive to clean, cut, prepare, cook, pack, load and distribute food. After food delivery, Tony manages kitchen inventory and heads out to buy supplies for the next day’s deliveries. His work day ends at about 5 pm. This has been his routine for 360 days a year as his family “forces” him to take a few days off.
The work is taxing physically, mentally and emotionally. Tony has made sacrifices in his time, health and family. Still, he wears a smile and makes an effort to listen and talk to volunteers and beneficiaries.
Inspired by Tony’s passion, volunteers come in droves, who bring their friends, who in turn bring other friends.
Tony has been much lauded for his efforts, receiving many noteworthy comments, one of which was made by then Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) in 2011. Said Minister Chan of Willing Hearts’ faithful, regular and untiring efforts, “This is a feat that few can match up to and it is so heartwarming to know that this act comes from many willing hearts.”
In 2013, Tony received the President’s Award for Volunteerism (Individual).
By NVPC
