Kitchen Volunteer @ Willing Hearts (Ubi)

Set out with Josh early in the morning to Willing Hearts @ Jalan Ubi.

We volunteered for the first slot between 5am to 6.30am. Couldn't take any pictures here as we were so busy as soon as we arrived. Being first time kitchen volunteers, was a bit concerned that we sort of screw up the operations and expectations but no, the people are super cool, patient and friendly. As it was the early shift, not many people were around except for the cooks (probably regulars here).

4.50am - Virgin Volunteers

Check in after parking with trace together app and then use the camera app to scan the volunteer check in and out QR. You will need to register with Willing Hearts prior or on the spot via the page. Basically when you scan this QR, it will log the check in time.

5.00am - Packing Boxes Prep

First thing we did was to don an apron and hairnet (provided) at the packing area. Our first task : to prep the huge bags of styrofoam packs by placing them as the end of the packing tables, open the retainer bag and place them in an easy to reach orientation for the food packers. There are 4 long packing tables in total so we were done in a couple of minutes.

5.10am - Rice Prep

Seeing there was not further task in the packing area we headed into the kitchen and asked around if we could help. Immediately we were tasked to prepare the large metal rice containers and move them to the rice cooker area. There are 7 rice cooker modules (these are huge industrial ones!) each with 3 stacks of cookers; that's 21 huge pots of rice cooking at once... Each cooker tray was quite heavy so I had to take them out of the cooker, place them on the table, open the net that holds the rice and flip it to the container.

Fortunately there was a 13 year old, Ben, who's a regular for this station to tell me what to do. Else blur blur a bit. The cooking container was probably too heavy for him and Josh. Only 2 persons required here so Josh went over to help out in the preparation of the raw rice prior to placing into the rice cooker. His area will transfer the filled container to my area and I will slide these heavy containers in the cooker and start the cooking timer for each stack.

I was careful not to hurt my back as the last stick is low to the ground and the cooking tray filled with cooked rice is not that light.

6.10am - Bulk Packing

We managed to empty all the stacks and also started another round of cooking for all the rice cooker modules. Since there was some waiting time for the rice to be cooked (about 18 mins?), rather than standing around waiting we went back to the packing station to see what they need. There were more volunteers by now (maybe about 4-5, and they seemed like regulars!). The ladies were doing the packing (basically taking an individual styrofoam container, place the rice, 3 ingredients and close the lid). Josh and me was tasked to pack the individual containers into large plastic bags, in a 2 x 2 (flat) configuration and stacked 5 level of this in one bag. After which the bags need to be tied tightly and in a specific way (so that the receiving side can undo it easily) and put onto trolleys.

Other volunteers are coordinating the movement of the trolleys to the cars / vans waiting outside also mostly run by volunteers. 

I was asked if I could help to drive but I had to leave at 6.30 but this is definitely a possibility, using and EV to transport such things seems logical. Do good and don't pollute (too much). As it stands there was really too much styrofoam used for this entire process...not too environmentally friendly but understandably cheap. Hopefully this can change soon ensuring the ensuring the entire end-to-end is sustainable!

Pretty amazing experience for us and I would go back again to help more! Possibly on a regular basis for the first shift. Let's see. By the end of it all, we were both clad in sweaty clothes. And yes, don't forget to scan the check-out QR so that the time can be logged.

How To Volunteer

Some information on volunteering : https://willinghearts.org.sg/get-involved/

To register some of the links are here : https://willinghearts.org.sg/volunteer-opportunities/

Just register yourself and choose a date and volunteer slot (it states how many volunteers still required so if its full, best not to go for those dates.). The early morning first shift seems to be the least popular. 

Parking : for the first shift, not many cars were parked at the CC carpark where Willing Hearts resides but I'm guessing it will promptly fill up. There are 3-4 roadside lots just outside the CC and more down the road after the CC. If those are also not available you may need to park at a nearby HDB MSCP across the road, which is ok also lah.

Location : 11 Jalan Ubi Blk 6, #01-51 Kembangan - Chai Chee Community Hub, Singapore 409074

Not my pic but this is the rice cooker area which I hung out with Ben