SINGAPORE - The Boys' Brigade's annual Share-a-Gift (BBSG) campaign kicked off on Monday (Nov 23) with a call for donations and volunteers to help reach 40,551 needy individuals, including a record number of 5,445 elderly beneficiaries.
The annual Christmas charity project, now in its 28th year, collects and distributes donated food items to disadvantaged individuals. Members of the public can also fulfil specific Christmas wishes such as school bags and ovens.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean officiated at the opening ceremony on Monday, where he launched this year's Main Box at the Pasir Ris East Community Club.
For the first time this year, longtime sponsor NTUC FairPrice will be donating $5 for every photograph posted on Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #bbshareagift, up to a maximum of $75,000, from Monday (Nov 23) to Dec 31. Pictures must show participants' involvement in BBSG, such as shopping, donating or volunteering.
This initiative comes as part of a greater push for social media engagement, according to BBSG's organising committee chairman Lui Chong Chee.
"We need more volunteers to come in not only to pack but to deliver food and provide transport, and we believe that social media is one of the best ways to reach out to the public, especially those in their 20s and 30s who are still very strong and can spend the weekend to help us out," he said.
"I think as long as we get the social media going, we can for sure reach our target of reaching out to over 40,000 beneficiaries."
As this year's beneficiaries include a record number of elderly people owing to the aging population, items such as biscuits, canned food and adult milk are also needed, Mr Lui said.
There are 12 collection sites for general donations, including six with Specific Wishes trees at various locations islandwide.
For the second year, Singaporeans overseas can also contribute by purchasing special donation hampers at www.fairprice.com.sg
The project will run from Monday to Dec 17 this year. For more information or to register as a volunteer, members of the public can call the BBSG hotline at 1800-227-4273 or visit www.bbshare.sg
