Patchwork of Flavors

Yesterday was the official launch of “Patchwork of Flavors”, a cookbook with a collection of 38 multi-racial recipes contributed by senior citizens. It was spearheaded by students from NTU in its social entrepreneurship effort to encourage active aging in the elderly through continuous involvement in the community. The cookbook showcases recipes on traditional home-cooked dishes which were handed down to its elderly contributors. Going at $10 each and accompanied with a goodie bag of food samples, it was a steal. There was quite a queue to buy the cookbook and all proceeds of the sale went to charitable organizations.

Recipes such as Fa Cai with Oysters, Steamed Chicken with Dried Lily Buds and Black Fungus, and Black-Eyed Beans Soup brought back nostalgic memories of times past for me. Even the Guest of Honor at the event mentioned the memories of her mother whenever she thinks of certain dishes. Indeed, food embodies powerful meanings in our lives.

One interesting feature of the cookbook, which I think is innovative, is that some of the food pictures are flanked by commercial canned or bottled drinks and accompanied by descriptions of these drinks. This is quite unusual as I have not seen a cookbook that does this. It seems that the cookbook is promoting these products.

I learnt later that these are the products of one of its sponsors. I think this is an innovative way to raise funds as social entrepreneurship seeks to tackle social issues with entrepreneurial methods so that it is sustainable in the long run. The advantage of this type of arrangement/partnership is that it is a win-win-win situation for the organizer, the sponsor, and the beneficiary. When the event is successful, the sponsor benefits from the exposure that its products get, the organizer has a higher chance of success in raising the needed funds, and the beneficiary could receive more funds.

It all seems good and well to me but I have a little naggy feeling about our motive to give – doesn’t anybody give out of altruistic reasons anymore? Must there be some benefits derived from the giving?

The people who bought the cookbooks were supporting the charitable organizations but would they do it if nothing was offered in return? What about the sponsors? I asked myself if I would give to charity without anything in return. I had to contemplate and the answer was: “Maybe once in a while.” How far have we slipped from the ideal of just giving freely from the heart without expecting anything in return except the satisfaction that one has done a good deed?

One might argue: Didn’t we give unreservedly and generously during the tsunami disaster, the earthquake disaster and other disasters?

Yes, we did. In fact, we sprang into action to help those less fortunate. But, why are we so slow or reluctant in giving to the less fortunate who live amongst us? Why do we need "benefits" to give? Have we been inundated with too many requests to give that we have become insensitized? Do we need the media to sensationalize their plight in our very own country before we take action?

Maybe.

And, maybe, the human race has never been so unreserved or so generous in helping others, never was…. we are under the illusion that we were. So, unless we are shaken vigorously, that little thing called conscience will always lay dormant, covered by layers of our other more desired pursuits. And, because of this, chances of getting enough help through appealing to this side of human nature would always be slim.

That is why there is a need to resort to appealing to the more materialistic side of human nature. Only through this could the needy be helped. I think this is one situation in which the end justifies the means as it is for a good cause. At the end of the day, it is the tangible benefits which charitable organizations gain that is important.

Ideals will always remain as ideals as long as they are espoused by many and practiced by few.