Public raises RM113,500 for woman rummaging through trash to feed family
Little did Magdalena Herkules Manalu expect that a story about her rummaging through a garbage bin to fend for her family, which went viral on social media, received public attention and raising RM113,500 in just 40 hours.
The 39-year-old woman, who was seven-month pregnant, was forced to do so to find food for her family after her husband, Choong Nai Fatt, 44, the sole breadwinner, was bedridden due to a stroke since December...
Little did Magdalena Herkules Manalu expect that a story about her rummaging through a garbage bin to fend for her family, which went viral on social media, received public attention and raising RM113,500 in just 40 hours.
The 39-year-old woman, who was seven-month pregnant, was forced to do so to find food for her family after her husband, Choong Nai Fatt, 44, the sole breadwinner, was bedridden due to a stroke since December.
As such, an initiative to collect money supervised by One Hope Charity and Welfare was launched on Feb 6 to help the family but the collection was stopped two days later.
“I wish to thank all donors who have donated to my family. I am very thankful because without your donations, I would not have been able to get my husband treated and give security to my family.
“But then, I urge all to stop donating to me because it is already enough. Give the donation to those more in need because (the donations collected) currently is already adequate to treat my husband.
“I don’t need money anymore except your prayers that our affairs are facilitated,” she told reporters when met in the compound of her house in Jelutong today.
Magdalena said that she would use the public donation to start an online business as a new start to look after her family in the light of her pregnancy, while waiting for her husband to recover.
The woman who is from Medan, Indonesia said that she did not want to depend fully on public charity as she still had the energy to find a living.
In the meantime, One Hope Charity and Welfare chairman, Chua Sui Hau said that Magdalena had decided to use RM45,000 from the funds collected to install a new plate on her husband’s skull at the Pantai Hospital, not including the costs of physiotherapy and other treatments.
Choong had undergone a craniotomy (an operation to open his skull) at the Penang Hospital (HPP) in December.
“If there are extra funds, we will channel to Choong’s family monthly, depending on the needs of the family, until it is used up.
“We will not give the donation in one lump sum because, from past experience, the funds will be gone in the twinkling of an eye... in addition, other quarters would surely disturb the family for the money,” said Chua.
He said that the collection of donations to the family also had to be stopped because certain irresponsible quarters were taking advantage of the situation through online platforms masquerading as Choong’s family members seeking aid.
- Bernama
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