Mummy Yummy is a local vegetarian restaurant that's known for initiatives to feed the needy people in Singapore.

Its two other stalls in Ayer Rajar and Chinatown sell discounted food to low-income workers in the area.

As such, Mummy Yummy is considered an essential service during this Circuit Breaker period. The group has also gotten approval to continue to make deliveries to the needy families and individuals during this period.

Recently, Mummy Yummy shared a post about a case involving an elderly woman who is still out and about during the circuit breaker period.

Befriending "hardcore" cardboard collector

The woman is a cardboard collector who lives in the area where Mummy Yummy staff regularly visit to deliver vegetarian meals to their beneficiaries.

According to the post, social service groups, including government agencies, have tried to offer help but faced rejection as they could not gain her trust.

The people in the neighbourhood have known this "hardcore" cardboard collector for a few years.

Mummy Yummy staff found out that the elderly woman wants to be helpful by gathering all the pieces of cardboard in the neighbourhood so that they will not be left lying around.

They also realised there was a misunderstanding between the elderly woman, and the authorities who have been trying to render help.

"She had deeply misunderstood the poor agencies and MP who tried so hard to help. We know they tried, not once not twice but very often because we asked them questions and yes it’s not their fault at all after understanding the whole story."

As such, the elderly woman has been "playing 'catching'" with the patrolling police during this period even though the latter are concerned about her safety.

Build trust and manage to get her to stay at home

In such trying times, Mummy Yummy staff shared important tips on how to engage elderly folks like this cardboard collector.

They said that she woman opens up to them due to their sincere efforts to befriend her and persuade her to change her mindset and lifestyle.

They do not try to force anything on her, and understand that she does not need food donations either.

"For cases like that, our approach is to break her mental barrier first. Befriend her in the most sincere way and slowly change her mindset and lifestyle as we see improvements in engaging her.

If we force her to give up collecting cardboard without a proper outlet for her to focus her attention on, we will fail in pulling her out of this cycle."

Eventually, they were able to strike an agreement with her by buying up the cardboard pieces that she collects.

In return, the elderly woman agreed that she will stay at home and only make necessary trips to buy food and brisk walks.

Here's the full post:

https://mothership.sg/2019/10/mummy-yummy-lost-man/

Top photo via Mummy Yummy/Facebook