“Giving Two Fish and Five Loaves” aptly describes the way St. John’s Home started and overcame its challenges and obstacles. Only a few people gave at first, and they started small. But eventually, much was accomplished as others followed their example.

“With the current land lease expiring in the near future, the Home needs to move all its residents and facilities to a new five storey building with capacity of 150 residents. This will be built on a much smaller plot of land at its present site and will need $12 million for its construction.” – Excerpt from the chapter ‘Giving Two Fish and Five Loaves To Help Needy Elderly’ in a new book ‘Giving Time And Treasure’ by local author Joachim Sim published in 2016.

“Giving Two Fish and Five Loaves” aptly describes the way St. John’s Home started and overcame its challenges and obstacles. Only a few people gave at first, and they started small. But eventually, much was accomplished as others followed their example.

In April 1956, a group of Christian friends led by Rev. Canon Yip Chor Seng decided to build a Sheltered Home for penniless and homeless elderly. They aimed to build five single storey cottages. The architect Mr Eugene Seow (he later became the first President of the Singapore Institute of Architects) felt that old people would feel happier in homely cottages. They succeeded and in December 1958, the Home – then called St. John’s Home for The Aged - was officially opened by then Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock. Thus, the Home was founded by a few individuals giving their “two fish and five loaves.”

These five cottages are still in operation in the Home today. One such cottage accommodates seven elderly residents. Other cottages were progressively built until by 1988, the Home has 15 cottages.

With Singapore’s rapid modernization, these cottages are relics of a bygone era. We hardly see such architectural buildings now.

Times have changed. The needs of the elderly have also changed. This makes it necessary for the Home to embark on a new beginning.

We reckon the new beginning to start from January 2016. This is because the Home’s old land lease had expired in December 2015. From January 2016, it has secured a fresh 30-year land lease from the Government, but on a smaller plot of 3,300 sqm at its present site.

It therefore has to build upwards. Those cosy cottages that have served the Home well for more than 50 years will have to make way for a new five-storey building.

The Home is faced again with the challenge of its early days to build accommodation to shelter its residents and house its facilities. Back then, it started with a few individuals giving their “two fish and five loaves.” As more people joined in the journey giving their “two fish and five loaves”, the capability increased and the five cottages were completed within three years.

With higher construction costs today, the new five storey St. John’s Home will cost a lot more. But so long as more and more people participate in this new journey with St. John’s Home by giving their “two fish and five loaves”, I believe that the Home will once again be able to overcome the challenges and obstacles it is faced with of having to rebuild a new Home. It will now not be to establish a Home for the Elderly, but to continue the Home’s 58-year legacy of sheltering and caring for homeless/needy elderly persons and even increasing its capacity to provide care.

The digital copy of the book is available at: https://www.singaporepools.com.sg/ms/ebook/giving-time-and-treasure.pdf