Last Christmas, Nancy Awyong and a group of volunteers from The Blessing Project paid a visit to Amelia Ng, a 17-year-old who was the first person in Singapore to be diagnosed with Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy.

The rare neurological disorder causes progressive damage to the nervous system.

Nancy and her team were there to bring Amelia the gift she had put on her wishlist. “She was so excited that she opened her eyes,” said Catherine Lee, who leads The Blessing Project. 

“As they prayed for her, she blinked her eyes and swallowed her saliva – signs that her mother, Wendy explained were Amelia’s way of communicating.”

That was an especially meaningful visit for the team, as Amelia passed away just two months later on February 6, 2024.

Celebrating the little ones

The Blessing Project began in 2021 as a simple idea to bring birthday celebrations to children who have never or rarely celebrated their birthdays.

Some of these children come from difficult or underprivileged backgrounds, others have special needs.

Catherine, a pastoral supervisor with City Harvest Church runs the project with volunteers from the church. The Blessing Project is part of CHC’s Church Without Walls initiative, a church-wide effort to bring the love of Jesus to people and places who may never step into a church.

For Catherine, helming The Blessing Project holds special meaning. 

She told Salt&Light: “I was very excited to take on this project because I was adopted at birth, and my adoptive parents never celebrated my birthday. When I first attended CHC in 1995, my cell group members celebrated my birthday for the very first time. I was deeply touched by the love they showed me.

“To me, special dates and occasions hold significant importance and remembering them is a powerful way to connect and build genuine relationships with one another.

“Some people may have never had their birthday celebrated before, while others may not have the means to do so. The Blessing Project aims to show love and care to children and individuals with special needs from low-income and needy families by celebrating their birthdays with a cake and a gift. We want to let them know that they are special and valued.”

Catherine (in glasses) with her husband Adam visiting a child with the gift she wished for. Photo courtesy of Catherine Lee.

The Blessing Project has engaged over 200 volunteers from CHC in the last three years. 

“Currently, we have around 50 core volunteers who serve faithfully in this ministry: Some drive and pick up the cakes; others buy gifts and conduct the celebrations,” Catherine told Salt&Light.

Since the inception of The Blessing Project, all birthday cakes have been sponsored by The Cake Shop. To date, around 2,000 birthday cakes have been gifted.

The Blessing Project – Christmas Edition

On top of ongoing birthday celebrations, doors have opened the last few years for The Blessing Project to expand their reach through working with organisations like HCA Hospice and up to 2023, Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home (CSLMCH).

Since December 2022, The Blessing Project volunteers have been visiting children with life-limiting illnesses under HCA’s care aduring the Christmas season. They call it The Blessing Project – Christmas Edition.

“In this ‘special edition’, we work with the HCA team to gather wish lists from the children. With love and care, we purchase these gifts and visit each child, during which we create moments of connection and warmth. During our visits, we not only deliver the presents but also share prayers and blessings with those who are open. We want to impart to them a sense of love and community,” Catherine described.

Kimberly Chan, Senior Medical Social Worker from HCA told Salt&Light: “As part of The Blessing Project, CHC not only shares gifts with HCA Hospice’s patients, but also their siblings. Including the 100 children who are part of this year’s project, a total of 160 children – patients and siblings – have been part of TBP.” 

This Christmas specifically, The Blessing Project has brought gifts to visit 54 patients and 43 of their siblings.

“Our goal is to bring a little light into their lives, reminding them that they are cherished and never alone,” Catherine told Salt&Light. 

The gifts that the children wish for range from pillows and dresses to ukuleles and popular character toys like Baby Shark and Thomas the Tank Engine.

Thomas Tay, a facilities executive, took part in the Christmas Edition with his cell group. It was his first time volunteering with The Blessing Project.

“We visited on the child on December 10. The family had requested for a simple T-shirt for their child, and we brought them two shirts and NTUC vouchers,” he told Salt&Light.

It was an eye-opener for Thomas. The family had another child with the same condition that had passed away in July this year. “To be honest, I went there to make a difference to the child but then, he can’t respond to us. So we sat and talked to the parents and family and gave them our encouragement and support.”

Uplifting spirits, bringing compassion

“Through The Blessing Project, we strive to create lasting memories that uplift spirits and bring compassion,” said Catherine. “We want to make each moment together truly meaningful.”

As these are children in palliative care, it is not uncommon for circumstances to change. Sometimes a visit has been scheduled but the child suddenly needs to go to the hospital. 

There have been occasions where The Blessing Project has come in as part of an outreach to a family in need.

“A couple of years ago, Harvest Kidz, our church’s children’s ministry, went to one- to two-room flats (rental flats for the very low income) and knocked on doors. They encountered two siblings who were home alone. Their father was incarcerated. Their mother came from Vietnam and was in the midst of divorcing her husband. The family was in a challenging financial situation and in great need.

“The Harvest Kidz staff member began extending help to the family. They invited the family to church, and the boys became active participants in the Smartkids tuition class (a free tutoring service run by CHC). 

“The Blessing Project celebrated both boys’ birthdays. Their mother works odd jobs including working as a Grab driver. But she recently suffered an injury that prevented her from working. During our recent celebrations, she was deeply moved that we could celebrate her children’s birthdays with a cake and a present each.”

It may seem a small gesture but the “extravagance” of cutting a birthday cake and opening a birthday present can do wonders for a child who doesn’t have much, Catherine points out.

“Every child is a precious gift from God who deserves to be gifted with love and gifts!”

This month, the Christmas Edition has been in full swing for the third year in a row, and counting. To Catherine, it is rewarding on many levels.

“I always look forward to witnessing the joy on their faces. There is something incredibly heartwarming about seeing the immediate impact of our efforts.

“Also it’s heartening to see strengthened connections within our community and with partner organisations. These collaborations not only enhance our ability to make a difference but also foster a sense of unity and shared purpose.”

Kimberly said: “In the first year that TBP came on board, we were grateful to have the support of several charity groups and organisations in bringing Christmas blessings to our patients and their siblings. Over the years, TBP has remained our steadfast partner. We deeply appreciate their ongoing dedication to bringing festive cheer to our young patients and their families.”

Being a blessing to others also blesses the blesser, Catherine added. “I also look forward to the personal growth and reflection that comes this season. Each outreach activity serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion, empathy, and the power of community. It’s a time we reflect on our blessings and are inspired by the resilience and spirit of those we support.”

Catherine hopes to start new “special editions” in 2025. “We aspire to expand our efforts beyond birthday celebrations and create more impactful blessing projects, to extend our reach and bring joy to even more individuals.”

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