SINGAPORE - From tree planting to making thousands of soft toys, a scheme to encourage NTUC FairPrice staff to volunteer with community projects proved so popular last year that the supermarket chain has opened it up to the public for the first time.

CEO Seah Kian Peng announced on Wednesday (Feb 17) that it is targeting 500 hours worth of such activities for members of public, starting in June.

"Many have asked in the past if they can participate... people who want to volunteer, but are not sure how to do it," he said. "If we can take the hassle out by organising it for them and allowing them to join us, it would certainly be untapped potential we can mobilise so the entire community benefits."

Mr Seah was speaking at a FairPrice staff community event in which employees celebrated Chinese New Year with elderly patients at the Ren Ci Community Hospital at a karaoke and lo hei session.

Last year, FairPrice staff achieved a total of 5,000 hours of voluntary community service, a target set in honour of SG50. Although the voluntary work was initially meant for employees only, the company said there was an "unexpectedly overwhelming" response to a Facebook post inviting the public to join.

This year's proposed activities for the 500 hours include cleaning kennels at the SPCA and taking elderly residents for walks.

More details will be revealed in June through the company's Facebook page and on notices in its supermarkets.