The Star - Mall Brings Cheer to Underprivileged Children

Held at Tropicana Gardens Mall in Petaling Jaya, the young guests from Light House Children Welfare Home Association were entertained by the energetic Christmas Fantasy Performers, while enjoying their special buffet luncheon.

Tropicana Corporation Bhd's top management and their employees were present to greet and spread the festive cheer to the underprivileged children.

The top management, consisting of Tropicana Group managing director Dion Tan, its group executive director Jared Ethan Ang as well as Tropicana marketing and sales division managing director Joanne Lee, chatted with the children and handed over school bags and toys to them.

The children were later taken to BookXcess to get new educational books of their choice. The foundation also donated essential groceries to the home.

Tan underlined the importance of spreading Christmas cheer to those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially underprivileged communities, this year.

"If there is a time to show the true meaning of Christmas- the spirit of giving, caring and spreading joy- it's this year," he said.

"For many years, we have championed our charity drive and the spirit of giving is always close to our hearts. This year is no exception, albeit a smaller group to adhere to the social distancing guidelines. Led by our charity arm, Tropicana Foundation, our mission is to support the underprivileged community," he said.

"We believe that even a small act has a big impact. Looking at the happy faces of the children, we are glad to host this event," he said.

Home founder Steven Siivaraju thanked Tropicana Foundation for inviting them and sharing Christmas joy with the children. Steven said the children were very excited to celebrate their early Christmas at the mall. "These children were very excited to travel by bus to celebrate their early Christmas at the mall, as this is their first outing with friends due to the Covid-19 pandemic," he added.

He said the Bangsar-based home, which has 63 children aged between four and 24 years, consisted of orphans from families of single mothers. "Most children from Orang Asli families have returned to their homes for Christmas holidays," he added.

One of the children who attended the event, nine-year-old Tatiana Adrian, said, "I am very happy to get a new toy and school bag as gifts." Tropicana Gardens Mall is currently counting down to its last stage of Christmas charity drive and those interested can still channel their donations through the "12 Days of Joy" programme at its Concourse Level.

Under this programme, the mall accepts donations of canned food, books, personal hygiene care kit, toys as well as dry food and beverages. They will channel the donations to the underprivileged children, old folk's home, lost pet centres and urban poor communities.

Additionally, they will distribute Christmas pastries to their tenants and shoppers, with the aim to end the year on a good note.