Toy Bank, A Gift of Love Community Programme

Toy Bank, A Gift of Love, is a really amazing community programme started by Cheras Leisure Mall that I wrote about earlier that allowed shoppers to become Santa, but picking a wish card from the wishing tree and then buying a gift according to the wishes of over 400 children from 13 children’s homes and charity houses. The campaign ran until 27 Dec and lots of generous shoppers really bought a lot of things for the children. What a blessing it was for me to be there to witness the handing over of the gifts from the mall to the homes, a beautiful day indeed, what’s more, 165 of the children also participated in the event and we got to mingle with them a little. In the morning, Golden Screen Cinemas even treated them to a movie time, they watched Legend of a Rabbit: The Martial of Fire and enjoyed some pop corn and drinks at the GSC Cheras LeisureMall.

After the movie, we gathered at the Concourse area all nicely set up with great performances to entertain the children and a buffet spread. I totally enjoyed the program as much as the children.

The children enjoyed some amazing dance moves from the dancers.

Ms Eva Hew, Assistant General Manager, Marketing and Promotion (Retail), Property Division, PPB Group Berhad said, “Toy Bank, A Gift of Love programme is a community initiative to connect people to areas of need in society. Since its inception in 1999, Toy Bank, A Gift of Love programme has become an anticipated event for the shoppers to express their care and concern for the underprivileged children.”

Since it was nearing noon time, food was served to avoid little hungry tummies. There were all kinds of delectable dishes including ABC to cool us down!

Cute dancers during some samba

Did you know that the Toy Bank programme had been around since 1999 and every year it just get stronger with more sponsors and supporters. Shoppers would look forward to this programme and return every year to participate with their friends and family. Cheras Leisure Mall is indeed a community shopping mall with a mission to give back to the community and society.

Carolers filling the mall with beautiful Christmas tunes

For 2015, the programme was really successful once again and the mall managed to collect 2700 gifts from 4-27 December 2015. I think the public is so generous and giving especially during the joyous season of Christmas. Besides just giving the items on the children’s wishlists, the shoppers also gave other household items such as rice, cooking oil, toiletries and more as these are always necessities in the many homes.

The children enjoyed their lunch

The participating children’s homes and charity houses of 2015’s Toy Bank, A Gift of Love programme include Shepherd’s Centre Foundation, Trinity Community Children’s Home, Persatuan Kebajikan Warga Tua Dan Kanak-Kanak WP, Pusat Jagaan Beribuan Kasih, Kajang, Bodhi Homecare Cheras, San Pedro Orphanage Home, Rumah Sayangan, Rumah Kanak Kanak Angels, Persatuan Kebajikan Kanak-Kanak Cornerstone, Yayasan Sunbeams Home, Rainbow Home, Rumah Bakti Nur Syaheera and Pusat Majudiri Y for the Deaf.

Special appearance by Santa Bear

Finally it was time to present the gifts to the representatives from the homes. It was a touching moment as I could see the gratitude in all the faces of the caretakers and the children represented.

This is all thanks to the thoughtful and loving hearts of the management of Cheras Leisure Mall and the kindness of their loyal shoppers too.

For more information about Toy Bank, A Gift of Love programme and upcoming event updates, kindly call 03-9132 2386, visit the Cheras LeisureMall Facebook page or send us an email at marketing@ppb.com.my.

About Toy Bank Programme

“Toy Bank” is an annual CSR initiative in line with PPB Group Berhad’s core value to contribute and engage with the communities in which we operate, and with society at large. A community initiative to connect people to areas of need in society, the project has since its inception in 1999 brightened up smiles of over 3000 underprivileged children. To date, there are approximately 80 homes have been the beneficiaries this programme. In 2014, more than 2,000 gifts were collected fulfilling wishes of over 400 children from 12 homes.