JOHOR BARU: With Deepavali just days away, two widows in Kangkar Pulai are keeping their celebrations modest, prioritising their families’ basic needs over festive spending.
The two women were among 30 recipients who received RM100 shopping vouchers each under a Deepavali assistance initiative organised by Econsave in Kangkar Pulai yesterday.
For single mother P. Pushpam, 53, the priority is to buy new clothes for her grandchildren, three years after losing her husband.
The mother of four, who lives with one of her children at the Kangkar Pulai flats, said her family could afford only simple preparations for the festival of lights this year.
“Deepavali is approaching, but we can only make simple preparations this year.
“Any assistance means a lot to us. I plan to use it to buy new clothes for my grandchildren,” she said.
Another recipient, V. Devi, 70, said she was surprised to receive assistance ahead of the festival.
She said such initiatives should continue to support financially vulnerable families, particularly during festive periods.
“I will make good use of the assistance and am grateful for it,” she said.
The other recipients comprised single mothers, orphans, cancer patients and those with chronic kidney disease.
The vouchers amounted to RM3,000 in total.