Keeping Hope Alive's Chinese New Year Celebration 2026

22nd February 2026 marked another heartwarming chapter in our annual Chinese New Year tradition as Keeping Hope Alive brought around 80 elderly residents to Red Star Restaurant on Chin Swee Road for a festive Lohei luncheon.

We started at the auspicious time of 8:28 AM, gathering our seniors for a morning of celebration. The feast was a delightful showcase of classic Chinese New Year dishes, featuring fresh prawns, fish, fried noodles, and dessert among other traditional delicacies.

The highlight was certainly the Lohei - watching our elderly friends standing around the tables, reaching high to toss the colorful salad while shouting auspicious wishes for good fortune and good health (恭喜发财，身体健康). Some needed help standing, but their enthusiasm never wavered.

The restaurant staff has come to know us over the years, working alongside our volunteers to serve food and ensure everyone was comfortable. Our young volunteers walked around the tables offering blessings to the elderly, creating beautiful moments of connection across generations.

Our volunteers did what we could - guiding the elderly to their tables, serving meals, and making sure everyone felt welcomed and cared for. Year after year, we return to this tradition. The shared laughter around the tables, the intergenerational exchanges, the simple act of gathering together - these are the moments that remind us why we keep showing up.