Starting out as a small group of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s students, Kechara Soup Kitchen quickly grew via word-of-mouth. The group today is formed by volunteers of all ages, coming from all walks of life, faiths, cultures and backgrounds.
Come rain or shine, our volunteers are out there bringing food and comfort to the people that society forgets. We are also in need of volunteers with specialist skills, particularly counsellors, trainers and medically-trained personnel and are also seeking companies who may have job vacancies for our clients.
Food Distribution
If you would like to join this group of special people putting compassion into action and distributing food every week, contact our Project Director Chua Siong Woan (+6010 3333 260).
On weekdays, we need volunteers who can help us to pack and distribute from our building (11am to 1pm) and our mobile soup kitchen (1:30pm to 2:30pm).
Those who wish to join in the midnight and evening rounds should attend a compulsory orientation programme which takes place every Saturday, 8pm.
Kechara Soup Kitchen
17 Jalan Barat
(Off Jalan Imbi)
55100 Kuala Lumpur,
MALAYSIA.
Tel: +603 2141 6046
Fax: +603 2141 6049
Email: ksk@kechara.com
Upon completion of the orientation program, please confirm with Siong Woan whether you will be joining our next food distribution round. We gather at the Kechara Soup Kitchen building on Saturdays at 9.30pm or Sundays at 5.00pm to pack the food into individual bags before commencing with our feeding routes.
Alternatively, if you prefer to meet us directly at the points of distribution, please inform Siong Woan in advance.
Doctors, Nurses, Medical Personnel
Our clients often need medical help, but it is usually difficult for them to get medical assistance, primarily due to a lack of funds or missing identification documents. To provide relief, it is our hope that we will eventually have suitable medical facilities to treat them directly. Until then however, we can only provide basic first aid.
Kechara Soup Kitchen are appealing for medically-trained people to join us on our rounds, to help advise on any medical treatment required should the need arise. Please contact our Project Director Chua Siong Woan (+6010 3333 260) if you would like to volunteer your expertise.
Counsellors
Imagine waking up every morning cold, stiff and sore because you have just spent yet another night in a doorway or on a hard bench, exposed to the elements. Imagine looking into your child’s eyes, wracked with hunger, and the intense feeling of helplessness for being unable to do much about it.
Imagine living like this every single day for years.
It takes a great amount of mental fortitude to deal with circumstances like this, and there comes a time when everyone needs a little help. Kechara Soup Kitchen are looking for trained counsellors who would like to help comfort the minds of our city’s least fortunate, whilst helping to ease the ache of their empty stomachs.
Trainers and Teachers
In line with our goal to help our clients get off the streets permanently, we aim to assist their reintegration into society by equipping them with skills so they are employable.
Kechara Soup Kitchen are looking for people who can teach literacy and numeracy, as well as practical skills that will aid them in their job search. If you are able to offer a position to one of our clients, or would like to help train our clients, please get in touch with our Project Director Chua Siong Woan (+6010 3333 260). Make a difference to someone’s life today.
I was just wondering if there is a good doctor who would be kind enough to give a hands-on talk on applying basic first-aid so that regular KSK volunteers could attend to minor ailments face by the homeless they encounter on their rounds.
In a previous posting today, I suggested first-aid kits to be available in all vehicles plying their route. Ok, so Muniady fell and sustained minor abrasion and superficial cuts on her elbow when she tried to break her fall on the pavement. So what are you gonna do? Well if you have the kit, you could wash her wounds with saline solution or surgical spirits, apply a little antibiotic cream after that and then cover the part with Hansaplast or a dressing. No need to call up KSK admin or look for a clinic, ya? What if you don’t have the Kit? Tell Muniady that you’ll call someone to come to give her a bandage or maybe go search for a clinic if the wound is pretty bad and tell the other homeless people that you’ll come back as soon as possible to give them their food?
Maybe I’ll try to get the green light from the Soup Kitchen and try get enough donation to buy 10 First-Aid boxes complete with medication when I see Justin on my next round. We have seven or eight cars on the midnite round. With 10 kits box, we have a few as spare just in case someone forgot to put it back into his car after washing the car.
Is there any voluntary activities in Subang area? I am currently staying in Subang but having transportation problem of travelling around.
Dear Lau,
Thank you for such encouraging words. We used to give Peanut butter too. Once we can find the sponsorship we will give them again.
Justin will be handing out first aid kits to all team leaders starting this weekend.
Dear Johnny,
We had this first aid training for our volunteers in May 2009. However, our doctor friend has since been transferred to Ipoh. It would be good if we can have sessions like this periodically.
Mean while if you have any doctor friends who can give talk on first aid or share some basic helpful tips, it would be very much appreciated. We can host another workshop on this.
Justin will be handing out first aid kits to all team leaders starting this weekend.
Dear May,
Thank you so much for your concern. We are fully aware of the type of containers and plastic bags that are being used to distribute food. Unfortunately, we will have to continue with this due to budget constraints until we are able to get sponsorship for the environmental friendly types. Please help us to pass the word around to your friends who may know of a manufacturer or sponsor.
Thank you Krista for your kind respond and your support. Thank you once again for a generous vote.
Jayson Chia, my name is justine and when in town, i’ stay in subang too. i’m planning to volunteer on saturdays september onwards. i Could help u out with transport as i drive. my email is justinethong@gmail.com and u can find me on facebook. search vitreouszircon@hotmail.com
i am a chef. i am now not working at the moment. i would like offer my help in the kitchen. i couldn’t find the details on the website. kindly do advise.
Hi taigra,
Thank you for your message, I’m sure KSK would love to hear from you! For more information about volunteering, please contact Siong Woan, who is KSK’s project director. Her contact details can be found at: http://www.kechara.com/soup-kitchen/contact/
I read often about Kechara happenings especially in Sunwaymas area and recently an opening at SS2 area and would like to contribute in whatever way I can to help. I am staying near Tropicana area.
Currently, I am not working and please let me know in what area I can contribute to your centre. Previously I was attached to the secretarial/admin area.
Thanks.
Dear Connie,
Thank you for your support and offer of help! People like you are a treasure, and we really appreciate your stepping forward to help us with our cause. Kechara Soup Kitchen has recently moved to their permanent premises in the heart of KL, and they need all the help they can get. For more information on how to volunteer, please contact either Siong Woan (+6010 3333 260, siongwoan.chua@kechara.com). She will be more than happy to hear from you.
Hi there, I’m interested in getting involved in volunteering esp. in food distribution and counselling… but the thing is as I’m back being a student, I have classes on weekends. I’m staying in Tropicana Selatan and do not possess own transportation.
Hi Florence,
Thanks for leaving a comment, it’s nice to hear you’re interested in helping out
KSK also do food distribution during the week where the clients go to the soup kitchen building, so you won’t miss out because you have weekend classes.
KSK don’t provide transport for volunteers; it’s up to the members to arrange transport for themselves. But maybe if you contact them (http://www.kechara.com/soup-kitchen/contact/), they might be able to put you in touch with someone who’s willing to carpool with you
Would it be possible for students to participate in this event for 2 weeks if they study overseas and are returning just for holidays?
Yes of course! No problem at all, just make sure you attend the briefing before you start
Siong Woan (KSK’s Project Director) will be happy to help you. You can get in touch with her via the details here: http://www.kechara.com/soup-kitchen/contact/
Sorry for asking again but do we have to be Buddhist to volunteer?
Of course not! If we don’t discriminate who we give food to, how can we discriminate who is able to volunteer and provide help?
KSK will welcome you with open arms!
Hi There
I am fairly new in KL and am looking for some volunteer work I can do…I work fulltime but evenings and weekends are available to do whatever I can do to help out. Have own transport so no problem – living around Ampang area but working around Bukit Jalil
Hello. I am interested in volunteering for KSK – food distribution. Could you please e-mail me the details for this food distribution events as I have transportation problems especially at late night because I stay in Nilai. Thanks.
Hi Ashraf Norzaimi, the food distribution schedule is as follows: “On weekdays, we need volunteers who can help us to pack and distribute from our building (11am to 1pm) and our mobile soup kitchen (1:30pm to 2:30pm). Those who wish to join in the midnight and evening rounds should attend a compulsory orientation programme which takes place every Saturday, 8pm”
Please register your name with the KSK team by Friday at 6pm. You can reach them by calling +603 2141 6046
I’m Sheen-Le from Wesley Methodist School’s Leo Club and the Leo Club is planning to volunteer and probably donate some goods. I’ve been trying to contact the Project Director, but could not get through at all. Is there someone else or another number that I can contact? Also, I was wondering, do we have to prepare the food and then bring it to the premise or do we pack the food provided there and distribute them? Besides that, is there anything that we have to do beforehand and are the distribution routes in a walking distance? Thank you! I would really appreciate to be given a number to contact as well.
Hi Sheen-Le, thank you for thinking of KSK
Siong Woan can be reached at +603 2141 6046…I will also forward your query to her so she can contact you 
Hi, I cant seem to get through the Project Director. I think the phone is off… Is there another number I can call? Pls and thx
I would like to contact her as soon as possible. 
Hi Sheen-Le, you can call the KSK building at +603 2141 6046
Hi, just a question. Would you be conducting any simple medical check up any time soon?
Hi Hare Randall, please contact the KSK team for further information regarding their scheduled activities
http://www.kechara.com/soup-kitchen/contact/
i like to join this…any recommend?
Hi Kok Wah, for more information on how you can volunteer, please contact the KSK team…their details can be found here
http://www.kechara.com/soup-kitchen/contact/
Hello, I am interested to volunteer for food packing only. I am unable to volunteer for food distribution. Can I still volunteer? Thank you.
Hi Winnie, yes of course – please contact the Kechara Soup Kitchen coordinators for more information
their details can be found here:
http://www.kechara.com/soup-kitchen/contact/
hi there
im a trained staff nurse. I’m interested in getting involved in volunteering in food distribution or help in medical treatment/assistance.
Hi PC, thank you so much for offering your help! If you don’t mind, I’d like to pass your details on to our KSK Project Directors so they can get in touch with you to find out more, and also to provide you with further details
I’m from Penang island, read about your kitchen soup article recently, am very keen to volunteer with packing food or be kitchen helpers..currently available on Sundays only, working full-time..can i still help out? Tq!
Hi Julie, distribution in Penang currently takes place every Monday and Wednesday night, from 11pm to 12:30am…it’s past work hours so you might still be able to make it
if you want further information on other ways you can help out, please contact KSK Penang’s branch director Patsy Gooi directly 
her contact details can be found here: http://www.kechara.com/soup-kitchen/branches/ksk-penang/
x
Hiya, i’m a student here. I would like to know if i am able to volunteer during weekdays. My lectures are only starting end of this month, so i will be free most of the weekdays. So what should i do if i want to help out?
Hi Amy, thanks for your enquiry! Best way for you to begin offering your volunteering services is by contacting the KSK administration directly (their contact details are here http://www.kechara.com/soup-kitchen/contact/). They’ll be able to tell you how you can best lend your support to the cause; my guess is that your services will be very much appreciated on weekdays between 11am and 1pm, when the KSK team serve their clients from the KSK building itself!
Hi, me and my friends from Taylor’s University are interested in helping out as part of our project for Moral Studies. We would like to know more on how we can get involved in your project. Do we have to contact the Project Director a few days earlier or there’s other alternatives? Thanks.=)
Btw, do we have to do any registrations or any other things before volunteering ourself?=)
Hi Ed, yes please contact the Project Director before Friday at 6pm in order to volunteer on the Saturday night weekend rounds. Registration can be done on the night itself, at the briefing you need to attend before you’re allowed to join the rounds
Hi,
I am interested to be volunteer. Is there any volunteer need in Penang since i based in Penang? If yes, is there any specify requirement to be a volunteer? Do i need to fill in any form or provide any relevant documents?
Appreciate your advices.
Thank you very much.
We would like to make a small item donation. Can we send the donated item to
Kechara Soup Kitchen, 17 Jln Barat,
(off jalan imbi),
55100 KL. Malaysia.
I would like to asked that is there any voluntary activities near maluri? As I stayed at maluri,I have the transportation problem to travelling around.. I wished can be participate as a volunteer to help..
Hai!! Interested to join in the volunteer list for food distribution!
Anyway as I don’t own a car having problem getting there..is there anyone who will be going from Klang or at least Subang?
Hi i’m a student from Help university . I have an assignment that need us involve in voluntary activities at any organisation . So , i would like to become a volunteer in Kechara Soup Kitchen to lend a hand . So can i know who i should contact ?
Hi, Im from Ipoh,read about your Kitchen Soup article today,me and my husband would like to volunteer to packing food and distribution food. We currently only available on Sunday,both of us working full time. Can i still help out?