REMBAU, MALAYSIA: This year's Mother's Day holds new meaning for G. Pushpamary, a mother of seven who has been left alone to fend for her children and then kicked out of their rented home.

Less than a month ago, she had nowhere to stay after the family was evicted from their home after failing to pay rent for a year.

This Mother's Day, though, the 33-year-old and her family have a roof over their heads and food to eat - thanks to caring Malaysians who donated cash and kind after reading about their plight.

"I am just overjoyed that we have a place to call home and I won't have to worry about where our next meal comes from. I am so grateful," she said.

The Star readers donated RM52,000 in less than a month after Pushpamary's story was highlighted.

The money raised will be kept in a trust fund managed by the Vivekananda Home and a monthly sum given to the family for their household needs.

One donor who chose to remain anonymous gave RM5,000. This will cover rent and utility bills for more than a year.

In addition, staff of Canon Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd pooled their resources and donated daily necessities like milk powder, biscuits, chocolates, cooking oil and diapers worth RM2,000 for Mother's Day.

Pushpamary, whose biggest struggle was to provide food for her children - S. Theeban, nine; Theeba, eight; Puvendran, six; Sharmila, five; Devi, four; Thilaga, two and Yugendran, one - needs not worry for some time.

"I am now able to cook simple meals and the children haven't had to go to bed hungry. With three square meals a day, they seem more active and healthier now," she said.

Pushpamary raises her children alone as her husband, who does odd jobs in Seremban, seldom returns home.

She used to walk 4km to send her two older children to school, but now a kind neighbour has volunteered to ferry them.

District welfare officer Rohaizal Umar said the department would contributing RM450 monthly to the family as part of its scheme to help needy children.