Christmas Cheer Wins Hearts—Ghosts Out of the Migrant Workers’ Wardrobes
Picture this: Mrs Reshma Murthy, a 49‑year‑old marketing whiz with two teenage sons, decides to swap her morning coffee for a hair‑trimmer‑sprinting trip across Singapore’s “circuit‑breaker” landscape. A whole hour of traffic, but hey—when you help a migrant worker cut their own hair in those months of isolation, it feels like a heroic moment.
The Origin Story
- Item delivered: A hair trimmer, because a well‑trimmed head can lift spirits.
- Destination: The Tuas dormitory, a bit of a drive from her Upper East Coast flat.
- Why it mattered: With movement controls in place, the workers couldn’t even open a hair salon—so Mrs Murthy’s trip was a tiny slice of relief.
What’s the Bigger Picture?
When the leadership at ItsRainingRaincoats got wind of the 2023 Christmas drive (the fourth consecutive year), they opened 20 volunteer homes as drop‑off hubs. Since the start of the campaign on December 10, Mrs Murthy has collected about 450 gifts—think mugs, blankets, even a few brush cans.
“I’m thrilled more folks are feeling the love for our migrant family,” Mrs Murthy says. “Parents and children come by, flipping the script on how essential these workers are to Singapore’s heartbeat.”
From Checkout to Care Group
- Every time a volunteer hands out a gift, they ask for the worker’s phone number.
- These numbers land in a support group run by ItsRainingRaincoats—think of it as a digital community where resources and tips roam.
- If a worker gets a donation‑in‑kind (say a fridge or blanket), the team flags it up, because most of them can’t afford a new appliance.
- Dental needs? The network partners with Q®M Dental, where migrant workers squeeze in for subsidised treatment.
Real Stories, Real Joy
Abdul Hanna—35, plant‐artist for a landscaping crew—opened a surprise box that came via ItsRainingRaincoats. Inside were a cap, water bottle, Bluetooth earphones, and instant coffee sachets.
“I’ve never had a gift while working in Singapore. It was the first time in 12 years that someone surprised me,” Abdul says, beaming.
So as the fireworks light up the night, this Christmas campaign reminds us that even a simple act—like handing a hair trimmer to a weary worker—can turn the mundane into a moment of shared humanity. And thanks to the folks behind ItsRainingRaincoats, the holiday spirit isn’t just for the “good” people. It’s all of us, one gift at a time.
