A Heartwarming Tradition of Generosity During the Festive Season
In the midst of the Chinese New Year festivities, where food and drinks are scarce and prices are often inflated due to the holiday surcharge, one hawker stall at MacPherson Market and Food Centre is offering something truly special: free tea and coffee for everyone.
A Surprise for Patrons
Makanan Singapura, a popular nasi padang stall at Block 89 Circuit Road, is keeping the festive spirit alive by offering complimentary beverages to anyone who visits, regardless of whether they make a purchase. This generous gesture was first noticed by patron Collin Ng, who shared his delightful experience on Facebook.
Ng first encountered the stall during the 2022 Chinese New Year. While buying breakfast, a woman from the stall offered him a free cup of coffee. At first, he declined, but soon realised that all the other drink stalls at the market were closed for the holiday. Curious, he returned to Makanan Singapura and was pleasantly surprised to find that the stall was indeed giving away free coffee.
Impressed by Generosity
Ng was moved by this unexpected kindness, particularly given that many stalls take advantage of the holiday period to raise their prices. “I was deeply surprised and impressed,” Ng said. “While others are levying surcharges, this lady is offering free coffee to anyone.”
His admiration grew further when he returned to the stall later that week and found out that this act of generosity wasn’t a one-off. Makanan Singapura had been offering free tea and coffee during every Chinese New Year for several years.
True Kampung Spirit
The stall’s commitment to spreading joy and warmth during the festive season is a perfect example of the “kampung spirit” — a sense of community and neighbourly kindness. Ng praised the stall, stating, “They could have capitalised on the holiday period to make some extra profit, but instead, they chose to offer free coffee to everyone.”
When Ng returned to the stall in January 2023, he found two large dispensers, one with black coffee and the other with black tea, accompanied by signs offering free drinks. He was once again impressed by the stall’s selfless spirit and expressed his gratitude: “This is true kampung spirit in this old neighbourhood.”
With a simple but powerful gesture, Makanan Singapura has made a lasting impression on its patrons, embodying the true essence of generosity and community.
