After her husband’s sudden retrenchment, Mdm Ronda* became the sole breadwinner of her home. She struggles on a daily basis under the weight of her motherhood duties, expenses for her family of 12, work, and mounting debt. However, with the help of the Singapore Red Cross’ Steady Steps Scheme, she soon found a sweet outlet for extra revenue that could change the trajectory of their lives forever. 

Their home looked lived in. There were scribbles and doodles on the walls, and holes that needed patching up. Due to the number of people packed into the old five-room flat in Tampines that already housed Mdm Ronda’s two aged parent-in-laws, mattresses were laid out in the living room. As we came in, bedroom doors gently closed shut and we gingerly tiptoed in, trying not to disturb the children sleeping in the living room. Yet in the middle of the clutter, Mdm Ronda stood there. 

If you met her on the street, you never would have guessed this was where Mdm Ronda lived. Her blouse was carefully pressed and her headscarf was colour-coordinated to match her outfit. Her face, while tired, was pretty. With bright eyes and a winsome grin, it was hard to believe that this same lady was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. 

Lots of Love, So Little Time

“I have been working as a waitress for 12 years and only submitted my resignation once because I wanted to be present for my youngest child who was enrolling in primary school. Thankfully, my manager didn't want me to resign, so he talked to the boss who allowed me to be released from work by nine at night. Even then, with a six-day work week, time remained the biggest challenge for me. Most days, I wake up at six and rush to cook for the family before everyone leaves for school. After the cooking is done in the early morning, I get ready for work that starts at one. If I have enough energy, I’ll try my best to cook for my family when I get home from work.”

Arrows In The Hands Of A Warrior

“When my second oldest son signed on for the Navy, I remember texting him during his Basic Military Training — call it motherly instincts, but I felt like something wasn't right. This son who seldom left the country was training hard for a job that would require him to be gone for months on the high seas. True enough, he was deeply homesick. 

I tried to reassure him and told my other children with mobile phones to send him words of encouragement. When I got home from work, my daughter showed me his reply to her text:

Thank you for your kind words. Know that I am making these sacrifices for our family and for your future. Please take care of Ibu (mother in Malay). 

Since then, those words have stuck with me, further cementing the knowledge that my husband and children are there for me. We are all in this together, and this keeps me going!”

The Way the Cookie Crumbles

“My interest in baking began in secondary school. My late mom would prepare the dough and I would handle the rest. Slowly, I began developing my skills through the videos on YouTube. And, just a few years ago, with the encouragement of my children and husband, I made my first sales to friends and family.

However, it was only this Hari Raya that things began blowing up! I had found a recipe online and baked it as a treat for my children.They loved it so much that it kick-started this small home business. When we got the total number of orders collected, we couldn't believe it. My husband worked hard as a grab delivery rider to earn enough so that he could buy me a larger oven so that I could fulfill the orders.Through word-of-mouth and samples that we prepared, more than 100 bottles were sold!

It was a feeling I had never felt before — a sense of achievement. For the first time, I felt capable.”

Steady Steps Wins the Race

“I’ve been under the Steady Steps Scheme for six months now. With the help of the Singapore Red Cross, we are able to chip away at our debts. The NTUC Care Packages and vouchers give me an ease of mind because I know that my family will have food on the table. With the reduced financial pressure, I can care for my children and manage the house better.

Thank you to the Steady Steps team for assisting my family and I — for looking out for me, encouraging me to pursue this dream, and for going out of your way to help. 

For the families like ours out there, don't give up on hope! Stay strong. There are days when I break down. In those moments, I try not to show my children that I am crying but sometimes the tears slip out. It is definitely not easy, but every time I feel like quitting, I remember that there’s always a rainbow after the rain — it’s just up to you to want to see it.”

Interested in getting your hands on her delicious chocolate chip cookies? Mdm Ronda will be raising funds for our annual fundraiser Grateful Hearts Day! Her cookies will be for sale through this online order form or at the Red Cross House at $20 per box of 25 from the 11th of July 2025, where $10 will go to her and the other $10 will go towards her fellow Singapore Red Cross beneficiaries. “I am happy to be able to do my part to give back to the community!”

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the beneficiary and their family.