The $50,000 saved by staging scaled-down celebrations will go towards hong baos and goodie bags for 700 needy families in the ward.

Grassroot leaders originally planned to illuminate the field opposite Eunos MRT station with 5,000 lanterns and a lighted archway as part of a month-long light-up (10 Jan- 9 Feb).But they scrapped the idea and started looking for sponsors when they saw that many residents have been hit badly by the recession.

Advisor to the organising committee for the celebrations and MP for Marine Parade GRC, Dr Ong Seh Hong said the number of people seeking financial help in weekly meet-the-people sessions have grown to about 60 now from about 40 last year.