An 86-year-old charity shop owner found his store blocked by 50-60 boxes of donated Christmas decorations.
The boxes were stacked from floor to ceiling in the corridor of Block 120 Potong Pasir Avenue 1, blocking both the shop entrance and public passage.
Shop owner Huang Kun Guan had to pay $100 to hire workers to remove the items after returning from a meal to find his shop entrance blocked.
“I was stuck outside my shop for two hours and could only enter after everything was cleared. I didn’t expect to be criticized for this,” Mr. Huang told Shin Min Daily News.
Mr. Huang rents the shop space to collect donated goods for orphanages in the Philippines, Indonesia’s Bintan Island, and Batam Island.
He delivers these donations weekly to support hundreds of orphans but says he only collects useful items, not decorations.
A resident complained to Shin Min Daily News on Friday (11 Apr 2025) about the boxes that appeared Thursday afternoon, saying “This problem of cluttered items isn’t new, but this time it’s really over the top.”
When reporters visited on Friday, they found all boxes had been cleared from the corridor.
Mr. Huang explained his shop operates from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but people sometimes donate outside these hours when he’s not present.
Xue, a 25-year-old manager of a neighboring pet store, saw the boxes delivered and arranged neatly against the wall but didn’t know who delivered them.
Mr. Huang has supported orphanages for over 20 years, inspired by his domestic helper Maria, who reporters met during their visit.
Maria, a founder of a Philippine orphanage, has donated most of her savings to support children in her village.
“Before I started this business, I experienced those difficult days, so I want to help them as much as I can. Their smiles are my biggest motivation,” Maria said.
Richard, a 66-year-old retiree who regularly donates to charity shops, noted that some donations are unsuitable for children’s needs.
“I believe donors have good intentions, but it would be more meaningful if they could provide useful things,” he said.
