Today, the United Nations commemorates International Volunteer Day (IVD). This year’s theme “solidarity through volunteering” bring to attention how we must act together and we must act now for the future of our planet.

SSVP (National Council of Singapore) and its affiliate SSVP Ltd comprises almost 1,000 (volunteer) members and volunteers who collectively provide assistance and support to more than 3,000 Friends in Need (FIN) across Singapore.

This week, we’re going to celebrate the service of our volunteers, some who have been with us for 50 years, others who have just come on board. Some volunteer for life, others join us on a short-term project basis. What remains a constant is that every contribution makes a positive impact on the lives of our FINs.

There’s no better person to start our SSVP IVD series than Ms Lucy Tan, 84 years old.

“Dad, I did it!”. These were the words that resounded in Lucy’s heart when she received the 50 years of Long Service Appreciation Award at the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP) Feast Day celebrations on 27 September.

Just before his death in the mid-1990s, Lucy’s father, who, himself was a Vincentian at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, thanked her for following his footsteps and told her never to abandon the poor. These are words that resonated loudly the day His Eminence William Cardinal Goh presented the certificate to her.

Lucy is an exemplary Vincentian who has served FINs and the Society, having been Vice-President of the SSVP Conference of St Louise de Marillac as well as a representative at the SSVP Particular Council (Serangoon). Throughout her service, she has shown that by serving in solidarity with God’s grace, we can achieve much together.

“Charity is the cement which binds communities to God and persons to one another.” – St Vincent de Paul