Staff from food and health supplements company Cerebos Pacific have been taking time off work to raise funds for needy children.

They will take turns to man the booths selling Brand's products - including its Brand's Essence of Chicken, at the atrium of China Square Central on Wednesday and Thursday. All sales proceeds will go to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. As of Wednesday evening, the team had raised about $8,000 and is looking at a target of $30,000.

The fund helps children and youth from low-income families cover the costs of their meals in school and other schooling needs. Every year, it disburses an average of $5 million and helps over 10,000 children.

This year, an additional $1.5 million has been earmarked for the fund to extend its assistance to post-secondary students in the Institute of Technical Education, junior colleges and polytechnics.