Business failure didn’t stop him from doing good deeds. A private-hire car driver recruited fellow drivers to help deliver meals and warmth – 8 Word, Mediacorp

Cai Changnan and his wife started delivering meals to those in need out of their own pockets more than a decade ago. When his business failed, he switched to being a private-hailing driver. His philanthropic efforts didn’t stop there, and he invited other private-hailing drivers to join him in delivering meals and providing relief.

Cai Changnan, 65, usually either drives a private-hire car to pick up passengers, or goes to Jalan Kukoh with his wife Lu Lianglin and volunteers to distribute lunch boxes to residents of rental flats.

Cai Changnan told Channel 8 News that he started following his in 2010, packing 20 to 30 portions of chicken rice and other food every Monday and Friday to deliver to residents in need in the Holland Village area. After two years of silently providing warmth, he was invited by Lions Befrienders in Kim Moh to start delivering meals to his wife to about 100 residents in the area.

As the number of beneficiaries increased, they began working with the volunteer welfare group Willing Hearts to pick up meals from their poor kitchen every weekend and distribute them to residents.

Just as their charity work expanded, his business closed down in 2013 and he started working as a private-hire car driver. However, this did not stop him from continuing to do charity work; instead, it became a boost for him.

He began recruiting volunteers in 2014, including inviting other private-hire car drivers to join the food delivery team, and established the “Delivery of God’s Love” organization, and the scope of service continued to expand.

Cai Changnan revealed that in 2018, they were invited by “Wish Heart” to rent a space in Jalan Kukok to deliver meals to the residents there every day. They now have about 20 volunteers to assist them. In addition, they also prepare fried noodles, fried carrot cakes and other dishes on site every Friday morning to provide breakfast for 50 to 70 elderly residents.

He admitted that at first some residents complained that the food was unpalatable, and some even said that the food was “not fit for human consumption”, but they persisted and gradually gained the understanding of the residents. A smile and a thank you from the elderly were their best reward.

“Physically, we’re very tired, but mentally, when we see the small results of our efforts, these elderly people are very happy, and we also gain a lot of comfort. The most important thing is that we can still contribute to society after retirement. I have a goal and a purpose every day.”

The Singapore Silent Heroes Awards 2025, which is entering its 12th year this year, held its award ceremony this evening (27th). Cai Changnan, who has made silent contributions over the years, was awarded the “Outstanding Adult Award”.

Nineteen-year-old Shen Wenying, who has been volunteering since she was seven, was awarded the Inspiring Youth Award. Over the past decade, she has contributed over 238 hours of volunteer work, helping over 1,100 families.

This year’s Singapore Silent Hero Awards has 24 finalists across five award categories, aged between 11 and 76, including Liu Lixuan, who was shortlisted for the “Inspiring Youth Award”.

Many children of this age are busy preparing for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), but Liu Lixuan takes time out almost every month to provide support to the elderly.

The story of how she, so young, became involved in community volunteering dates back to about seven years ago, when she was only five years old. Still in kindergarten, she would go to “Wish Heart” with her family in the dark at 5 am on four weekends to help pack lunch boxes and deliver them to those in need.

Liu Lixuan doesn’t quite remember how she felt at the time, but this “enlightenment education” planted the seeds for her to join the community service organization Volunteer Switchboard three years ago.

“About three years ago, my mother asked me what I wanted to try out of all the activities I could offer. I had read a report at the time about how many elderly people were dying alone at home. What I wanted most was to help them.”

Almost every month, Liu Lixuan organizes activities for the elderly at the nursing home or distributes daily necessities at Jalan Kukok. She took a break from this activity while preparing for the exams, but plans to resume in October.

She said in an interview: “I used to live with my grandmother, which made me feel that we should always accompany elders like my grandmother and not let them feel lonely. The elders have helped us build such a beautiful Singapore, and we should also be grateful. So I feel that we also have an obligation to let them spend their later years gracefully and with dignity.”

Almost every month, Liu Lixuan organizes activities for the elderly at the nursing home or distributes daily necessities at Jalan Kukok. She took a break from this activity while preparing for the exams, but plans to resume in October.

She said in an interview: “I used to live with my grandmother, which made me feel that we should always accompany elders like my grandmother and not let them feel lonely. The elders have helped us build such a beautiful Singapore, and we should also be grateful. So I feel that we also have an obligation to let them spend their later years gracefully and with dignity.”

Liu Lixuan feels fortunate to be able to serve the elderly in the community. She hopes to join the Youth Corps Singapore or the youth wing of a political party in the future to help more elderly people connect with the outside world and avoid being disconnected from society.

“ When I grow up, I want to organize more activities to promote communication between the elderly and young people, because young people can teach the elderly how to use smartphones and technology. ”

Our 2025 Singapore Silent Heroes Winners